oin collectors are a varied group, with some interested in foreign coins of all types, some interested only in ancient coins, and some interested in coins from throughout America’s history. You may know all of the current denominations of U.S. coins and a few of the most famous variations, but America’s treasury has a long history of changing designs and denominations. Here are a few coins you might not know about:
Flying Eagle Cents
The Flying Eagle Cent was the first coin that today’s Americans might recognize as a penny, though it certainly had its differences. This one-cent piece was small, like modern pennies, but it was not copper colored and did not feature a president’s bust. These coins featured a flying eagle on the obverse and had a light color due to the 12% nickel composition.
Half Dimes
Half dimes, also called half dismes (pronounced deems), were among the first official U.S. coins ever minted. In fact, they were minted before the U.S. Mint actually opened. It may seem strange that these five-cent pieces are not called nickels, but there is a simple explanation for that. The term nickel started as a slang term for coins made from nickel in the mid-19th century, while the half dime was made from silver and used before the term nickel came to prominence.
20-Cent Pieces
For a brief period in the late 1800s, America experimented with a 20-cent piece. The 20/100 denomination was, and still is, a popular coin in other major economies. This coin was doomed in America because it was released alongside the existing 25-cent piece and looked very much like it. Confusing the two coins caused frustration, and the coin was phased out in a couple of years.
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