Message:19978 In: TODAY.WW
From: KF5JRVDate: Thu, 02 Apr 26 08:29:00 Z
Newsgroups: TODAY.WW
Subject: Today in History - Apr 02
Message-ID: <22451_KF5JRV>
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On April 2, 1792, Congress passes the Coinage Act, establishing the United States Mint as the federally authorized producer of
the nation’s coin currency.
Before the Mint was created, Americans relied on a mix of foreign coins—especially from Europe—along with barter, using liv
estock or crops to pay for goods. Various forms of paper currency also circulated in the states.
Early proposals for U.S. coin designs included placing the sitting president’s image on one side, but President George Washin
gton dismissed the idea as “monarchical.” Instead, the Coinage Act required that all coins produced by the Mint include an
image that “is emblematic of liberty”—typically represented by the face of Lady Liberty. Gold and silver coins must also
include an eagle and the words “The United States of America.” The law authorized construction of the Mint building in Phil
adelphia, then the nation’s capital.
About a week after the act became law, Washington appointed scientist, mathematician and statesman David Rittenhouse as the Min
t’s first director, at a salary of $2,000 per year. Rittenhouse, who had been serving as the treasurer of Pennsylvania, ran t
he Mint for three years.
The first coins struck were “half dimes.” Although the source of their silver remains unknown, it might have been donated b
y Washington, himself—one enduring legend claims it came from George and Martha Washington’s household silver. These early
coins were likely distributed to dignitaries, rather than widely circulated. The first coins produced for general circulation w
ere 11,178 copper cents struck in March 1793.
Today, the U.S. Mint produces more than 10 billion coins a year at its four production sites across the country.
73 de Scott KF5JRV
Pmail: KF5JRV@KF5JRV.#NWAR.AR.USA.NA
Email KF5JRV@gmail.co
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