Chronology of United States of America Coins

Copyright © 2010-2024 Ken Polsson
internet e-mail: ken@kpolsson.com
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URL: http://kpolsson.com/coinhist/usa/

References are numbered in [brackets], which are listed here. A number after the dot gives the page in the source.

Last updated: 2023 October 23.


1800

March 14
  • A Senate committee recommends abolishing the US Mint. [43.126]
May 5
  • The US Senate passes a bill seeking to abolish the Mint and contract for coinage with the Bank of the United States. [43.128]
December 5
  • Mint Director Elias Boudinot requests additional copper planchets from Birmingham coiner Matthew Boulton. [334.44]

1801

March 21
  • Matthew Boulton of England ships 20 tons of copper planchets to the US Mint. [349.48]
August 17
  • Treasurer of the Mint delivers 1000 cents to the Bank of the United States. [46.68]
August
  • The Mint resumes half dollar coinage, with a heraldic eagle design. [303.84]
August 26
  • Ship New Jersey leaves England with 25 tons of cent planchets from Matthew Boulton for US Mint. [102.34]

1802

January 29
  • Representative William Giles of Virgina introduces a bill calling for the abolishment of the Mint. [43.130]
March 3
  • The US Senate passes a bill to continue the Mint, and allow it to remain in Philadelphia. [43.130]
April 2
  • Representative William Giles of Virgina introduces a bill to repeal the Act Establishing a Mint, and directing the President to liquidate its assets. [43.130] [294.42]
April 26
  • The House of Representatives passes the bill to abolish the Mint. [43.130]
May 3
  • All foreign gold and silver coins cease to be legal tender in the USA for three years. [25.60] [100.48]
December 17
  • Representative John Randolph of Virginia introduces a bill to abolish the Mint. [43.130]

1803

March 1
  • The House of Representatives passes a bill to continue the Mint, as previously passed by the Senate. [43.130]
March 3
  • The President signs into law the bill extending the existence of the US Mint. [43.130]
June
  • Mint Director Elias Boudinot orders a trial suspension of minting of silver dollar coinage. [246.40] [300.26]

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August
  • Mint Director Elias Boudinot suspends coinage of dollars due to their main use in export profiteering. [182.58]
October 14
  • US Mint purchases 15 tons of copper planchets from Matthew Boulton of England. [383.44]
December
  • Coinage of silver dollars resumes. [182.58]

1804

March 28
  • President Thomas Jefferson suspends coinage of silver dollars, to stop the practice of profiteers exporting them to the West Indies, exchanging them for Spanish dollars, and importing them for recoinage at the Philadelphia Mint. [174.26] [300.27] (March 27 [246.40]) (April [182.58])
May
  • The first American-mined gold is deposited at the Philadelphia Mint for coinage. [133.78]

1805

May 3
  • Spanish milled dollar coins resume legal tender status in the USA. [25.60]
December 23
  • US Senate confirms Robert Patterson as Mint director. [148.24] [190.24]

1806

March 27
  • A bill is introduced in Congress for coinage of 2-cent coin and 20-cent coin. [302.42]
April 10
  • In the USA, an Act fixes the legal tender value of gold coins of Great Britain, Portugal, France, Spain, and silver coins of Spain and France. [1.B20]
May 1
  • Secretary of State James Madison instructs U.S. Mint Director Robert Patterson to cease coinage of silver coins larger than the half dollar due to exportation of silver dollars by the Bank of the United States. [197.60] [300.27]

1807

February 13
  • The US Senate passes the bill proposing coinage of 2-cent and 20-cent pieces. [302.42]

1808

February 26
  • The US Mint strikes 2710 copies of the Capped Draped Bust gold $2.50 quarter eagle. [36.24]

1810

April
  • Mint Director Patterson halts half-cent coinage, with 1/2 million pieces on hand. [424.1713]

1811

March 12
  • The Mint temporarily runs out of cent blanks. [424.1713]
July 9
  • Assistant coiner delivers 63,140 half cents. (These are the last half cents until December 1825.) [424.1713]

1814

February 15
  • President James Madison appoints Adam Eckfelt as chief coiner. [183.58]

1816

January 10
  • 47,150 half dollars dated 1815 with the "5" punched over a "2" are delivered from the Mint to the coining department. These are the only 1815-dated half dollars produced. [218.26]
January 11
  • A disasterous fire closes down the Philadelphia Mint. The fire destroys rolling and milling machinery used to make planchets for gold and silver coins. [82.32] [218.26]
April 10
  • Congress passes the Act Regulating the Currency of Foreign Coins in the United States. [21.22] [97.32]
April 29
  • Congress approves legal tender status for French silver 5-franc coins, and orders assays of British and Portuguese coins. [197.60]
June 24
  • The Philadelphia Mint begins using steam power for the strip rolling mills. [39.94]

1823

March 3
  • An act of Congress fixes the value of gold coins of Great Britain, Portugal, France, Spain, Brazil, Mexico, and Columbia. [185.56]

1824

January 28
  • William Kneass is appointed chief engraver of the US Mint. [52.20] (January 29 [153.68])

1825

January 3
  • US Senate confirms Samuel Moore as Mint director. [150.58]

1827

July 25
  • The US Mint begins striking Gobrecht Seated Liberty half dimes. [74.40]

1828

May 19
  • Congress authorizes the Mint to continue operation until otherwise provided by law. [43.130]
December
  • Mint Director Samuel Moore asks Congress for a new Mint building. [329.54]

1829

April 30
  • US government purchases site for new Philadelphia Mint for $31,666.67. [329.54] [356.36]
July 4
  • US President Andrew Jackson lays the cornerstone for the second Mint building at the corner of Chestnut and Juniper Streets in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [6] [25.20] [460.38] [463.42] (Mint Director Samuel Moore lays the cornerstone [39.56] [114.36])

1831

April 18
  • The President authorizes coinage of silver dollars again. [300.27]

1834

June 28
  • Congress reduces gold in dollar from 27 grains to 25.8, and fineness to 0.899225, and changes the silver to gold ratio from 15-to-1 to 16.002-to-1. This sets the value of gold at $20.689 per ounce. [38.60] [113.40] [177.10] [179.26]
November
  • Chief Coiner Adam Eckfeldt supervises striking of 1804-dated silver dollar coins. [246.46]
(month unknown)
  • By year's end, two sets of nine coins, including 1804 $1 and $10 have been struck. [300.28]

1835

January
  • Two more sets of nine coins, including 1804 $1 and $10 are struck. [300.28]
March 3
  • Congress establishes Branch Mints at Charlotte, North Carolina; Dahlonega, Georgia; and New Orleans, Louisiana; and establishes use of Mint marks on US coinage. [6] [92.62] [115.91] [119.92] [308.46]
March 31
  • US Secretary of State John Forsyth writes to Mint Director Samuel Moore asking for two more sets of US coins (including 1804 $1 and $10) for presentation to rulers of Japan and Cochin China. [307.35]
April 21
  • US special diplomatic agent Edmund Roberts receives 1834 Proof set to take to King of Siam. [224.25]
June 19
  • The US government purchases the Jackson Square site for the future New Orleans Mint in Louisiana. [6] [36.56] [212.59]
June 30
  • Resignation of Mint Director Samuel Moore takes effect. [246.46]
(month unknown)
  • The US government sells the old Philadelphia Mint building. [329.54]
July 1
  • Robert Maskell Patterson becomes Mint director. [61.58]
August 3
  • The US government purchases the site for the Dahlonega Mint, for US$1050. [43.68] [120.86] [253.68]
September 22
  • Benjamin Towns of Athens, Georgia, contracts to build the Dahlonega Mint for $33,450. [110.40]
October 1
  • A set of 11 current US coins (including an 1804 Draped Bust dollar) is given to the Sultan of Muscat by US officials. [60.88] [459.44]
November 2
  • The US government purchases the site for the Charlotte Mint for US$1500. [65.52] [292.32] [416.48]
November
  • The Department of State directs Mint Director Samuel Moore to forward a complete set of US coins to the King of Siam and another to the Sultan of Muscat. (The sets will include newly-struck 1804 silver dollars, on the assumption that others were stuck in 1804.) [172.52]

1836

January 8
  • Construction begins on the Charlotte Mint. [339.78]
March 23
  • The Philadelphia Mint makes ceremonial first strikings with a steam press, striking medals commemorating the event. [95.34] [297.34] [323.64] [460.37]
April 5
  • US Special Agent Edmund Roberts presents King Ph'ra Nang Klao of Siam with a set of 11 US coins, nine dated 1834, plus 1804-dated silver dollar and gold eagle. [60.88] [172.52] [199.9] [224.25] (April 6 [459.44])
August 25
  • Mint Director Robert M. Patterson forwards a tin impression of a proposed Gobrecht dollar to Treasury Secretary Levi Woodbury. [48.60]
November 8
  • The Philadelphia Mint begins striking coins for circulation using steam-powered presses; first coin is the 1836 Capped Bust, Reeded Edge half dollar. Results are considered unsatisfactory. [39.94] [129.38] [323.64] [460.42]
December 31
  • The US Mint begins striking Seated Liberty silver dollars for circulation. [80.79] [305.24] [307.68] [420.40]
  • The Mint releases Gobrecht-designed dollar coins to the Bank of the United States for distribution. [149.81] [291.135] [338.40]

1837

January 18
  • US President Andrew Jackson signs coinage bill amending the Mint Act. Some changes:
    • the Mint is placed within the responsibility of the Treasury;
    • sets dollar price of gold at $20.67 per ounce, silver price at $1.2929 per ounce, silver/gold ratio changed to 15.998-to-1;
    • uniform fineness of 0.900 for gold and silver coins;
    • changes weight of half disme from 1.35 to 1.34 grams, and alloy from 89.25 to 90 percent silver, and from 10.75 to 10 percent copper;
    • establishes a $1 million bullion fund to purchase and coin gold and silver bullion in advance of deposits;
    • authorizes Seated Liberty dollar coin of 412.5 grains fine silver.
    [36.15] [43.128] [83.32] [111.79] [177.10] [179.26] [340.34] [443.668]
March 22
  • Rufus Tyler is appointed first coiner for the branch mint in New Orleans. [469.52]
March 31
  • US Mint Chief Coiner Eckfeldt delivers 600 Gobrecht dollars dated 1836 struck in medal alignment. [5.52]
April 22
  • Philadelphia Mint ships equipment to Dahlonega Mint. [99.36]
June 30
  • The Philadelphia Mint strikes a few proof dimes of the seated Liberty design. [39.56] [307.70]
July 27
  • US Branch Mint opens in Charlotte, North Carolina. [6] [75.64] [490.31]
December 4
  • Charlotte Mint receives its first deposit of gold, from Irwin & Wilms. [134.38] [305.24]
December 8
  • The Charlotte Branch Mint officially opens for receipt and assay of bullion. [135.42] [334.44]

1838

February 12
  • Dahlonega Branch Mint officially opens for business with acceptance of bullion and assaying operations. [57.22] [170.56]
March 8
  • US mint in New Orleans begins operation (receiving first deposit of silver bullion, producing dimes). [6] [119.92] [291.36]
March 27
  • The Charlotte Mint begins striking 1838 gold half eagles for circulation, first US coins with a mint mark ("C"). [57.22] [192.32] (March 28 [95.34] [350.90] [352.42])
March
  • The Philadelphia Mint begins 1838 dime coinage. [307.70]
March 31
  • The US Mint releases first 1838 dimes to circulation. [96.38]
April 9
  • Dies for dimes are shipped from the Philadelphia Mint to the New Orleans Mint. [21.22] [307.70]
April 10
  • Gold bullion is first deposited at the New Orleans Mint. [97.32] [356.36]
April 21
  • The Dahlonega Branch Mint begins striking its first coins, 1838 Classic Head half eagles, first US coins with a "D" mint mark. [57.22]
May 3
  • Two pairs of 1838-dated half-dollar dies arrive at the branch mint in New Orleans. [469.53]
May 7
  • The New Orleans Branch Mint begins operations, striking 1838 Seated Liberty dimes, first US coins with a "O" mint mark. After striking 30 dimes for special purposes, the press breaks down. [57.22] [101.32] (May 8 [307.70])
July 27
  • The New Orleans Mint closes for annual yellow fever epidemic. [307.70]
August 1
  • The branch mint in New Orleans closes during an outbreak of Yellow Fever. [469.53]
September 29
  • The US Mint begins production of Seated Liberty quarter dollars for circulation. [56.34] [118.40]
November 1
  • The branch mint in New Orleans re-opens. [469.53]

1839

January 7
  • New Orleans Mint makes last coinage of 1838 Seated Liberty dimes. [150.58]

1840

December 23
  • Christian Gobrecht begins term as US Mint chief engraver. [190.24] [336.38]

1842

  • Jacob Eckfeldt and William Du Bois publish A Manual of Gold & Silver Coins, including the first illustration of an 1804 silver dollar. [300.28] [307.35]

1843

May 9
  • Matthew Stickney receives a Proof 1804 Draped Bust dollar coin in trade with Philadelphia Mint. [26.44] [27.22] [200.46] [224.25] [307.35] [459.44]

1844

July 23
  • End of Christian Gobrecht's tenure as US Mint chief engraver. [117.38]
July 27
  • A fire at the Charlotte Mint halts production of coins. [6] [42.62] [119.32]
September 16
  • US President John Tyler appoints James B. Longacre chief engraver. [252.79]

1848

December 8
  • First gold from the American River in California is delivered to the Philadelphia Mint. [140.72] (December 9 [334.44])
  • US Secretary of War Maroy sends a message to Mint Director Robert Patterson asking for creation of $2.50 coins from California gold with a distinguishing mark. [238.40]

1849

January
  • First shipment of gold from California is coined into 1,389 quarter eagles, with "CAL." punched into reverse of each coin as a distinguishing mark. [177.100]
January 25
  • Congressman James Iver McKay of North Carolina introduces legislation proposing a gold dollar coin in the House of Representatives. [335.58]
March 2
  • Oregon Territorial Governor Joseph Lane declares Oregon City Mint act unconstitutional. [289.70]
March 3
  • US President James Polk signs the Gold Coinage Act into law, authorizes $1 and $20 double eagle gold coins. [6] [22.140] [46.18] [133.78] [177.98] [238.60] [335.58]
May 7
  • Chief Engraver James Longacre completes master dies for the Coronet gold dollar coin. [133.78]
May 8
  • The US Mint strikes first gold dollars. [177.98] [238.60]
December 22
  • The Philadelphia Mint strikes two proofs of the 1849 gold double eagle. [315.86]

End of 1800-1849. Next: 1850.

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1777-1799 1800-1849 1850-1874 1875-1899 1900-1934 1935-1964 1965-1973 1974-1979 1980-1989 1990-1999
2000-2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012-end


A list of references to all source material is available.


Last updated: 2023 October 23.
Copyright © 2010-2024 Ken Polsson (email: ken@kpolsson.com).
URL: http://kpolsson.com/coinhist/usa/
Link to Ken P's home page.

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