History of American Coinage
American Coinage
American coins have had a lot of designs over the years. Here we will showcase the designs and will give you the silver percentage for each coin.
Flowing Hair Dollar
Flowing Hair Dollar.
Produced from 1794-1804 these Dollar coins were also known as the draped bust dollar. These were the first true American dollar coins. In 1792 the Coinage Act was passed and 2 years later the first American silver Dollar was produced. These coins were made out of 90% silver with the Lady Liberty on the front of the coin to represent the American idea. This design was only minted for 10 years and are highly sought after in the coin collector community.
- Dollar Coins: 1935 & before: 90% Silver 22.2365 grams of pure silver
- Half Dollars: 1964 & Before 90%: 11.11825 grams of Pure Silver
- Half Dollars: 1965-1969 40% Silver 5.559125 grams of Pure Silver
- Quarters: 1964 & Before 90% Silver: 5.559125 Grams
- Dimes: 1964 & Before 90% Silver 2.22365 grams
American Silver Dollars
The Morgan and Peace Dollars
The are agurablely the most well known of all U.S. Silver Dollars. These dollars are made of 90% silver and 10% copper. The Morgan Dollar had one of the longest runs being made from 1878 to 1921. While the Peace Dollar was only in production from 1921 to 1935. Intersting enough 1921 marked the first time there were 2 different designs for the American Silver Dollar.
- Mint Mark CC: Carson City, Nevada (1870–1893). For collectors this is the most sought out mint mark coins in the world. The Carson City Mint while actually created in 1863 it did not go into operation until 1870. The Carson City Mint produced silver dollars & gold coins from 1870-1885. The mint then took a short break for 3 years and began producing coins again from 1890 to 1893 when permently closed. The old Carson City Mint is now the Nevada State Museum. Give us a call at 713-521-1748 if you have any questions regarding Carson City Coins. The owner is a Carson City Collector.
Carson City Mintage Figures:
Mintage Figures Credit to The Official Red Book. (I suggest any coin collector to get yourself one of these)
1878 CC: Total Mintage: 2,212,0000
1879 CC: CC over CC: Total Mintage: 756,000
1879 CC: Clear CC: Total Mintage: 756,000
1880 CC: Total Mintage: 195,000
1881 CC: Total Mintage: 296,000
1882 CC: Total Mintage: 1,133,000
1883 CC: Total Mintage: 1,204,000
1884 CC: Total Mintage: 1,136,000
1885 CC: Total Mintage: 228,000
1889 CC: Total Mintage: 350,000
1890 CC: Total Mintage: 2,309,041
1891 CC: Total Mintage: 1,618,000
1892 CC: Total Mintage: 1,352,000
1893 CC: Total Mintage 677,000
- Mint Mark D: Denver, Colorado (1906 to date). The Denver Mint opened in 1906 is still producing coins to this day. Two of the most iconic coins from the Denver Mint would be the 1916-D Dime (264,00 total mintage) and the most common Error coin the 1936-D 3 legged Buffalo Nickel (Unknown how many accutally exisit)
- Mint Mark O: New Orleans, Louisania (1838–1861; 1879–1909).
- Mint Mark P: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (produced from 1793 to date, mint mark introduced in 1979). The countries largest and longest running mint in United States History. Coins without a mint mark are always from the Philadelphia Mint.
- Mint Mark S: San Francisco, California (1854 to date).
- Mint Mark W: West Point, New York (1984 to date).
- C: Charolette, North Carolina (gold coins only; 1838–1861).
- D: Dahlonega, Georgia (gold coins only; 1838–1861).
