In 1792, the U.S. passed an act for establishing a mint. Several different patterns were made and most of their origins not clearly understood. The next year, the mint began. They started by making cents and half cents. They started by making chain cents but soon the public began complaining about the design and how disgraceful Liberty looked. Most people still dislike the design to this day. Today these coins command high prices even for low grade examples.
Soon the U.S. Mint changed the design so that the reverse had a wreath and they modified the obverse design. There are about 11 different varieties but several different ones due to rarity prove elusive to collectors trying to obtain them. One is the strawberry leaf which shows a sprig from a strawberry plant below Liberty. While all show a leaf this one is special because of the strawberry. There are only three known and in the beginning of the 20th century, the wealthy brewer Virgil Brand obtained 2/3 of the existent examples in his massive coin hoard.
The design was not appropriate due to cost saving measures as the design made it difficult to fully strike up so soon they changed the design to the best design in all of U.S. coining history. It showed a representation of lady liberty with a liberty cap. There is several different varieties of this year that are noteworthy. They include the 1794 Starred reverse cent. The fascinating thing about this is 94 stars show up on the reverse. It is unknown why they appear. The other interesting variety is the Jefferson head cent. John Harper, a mechanic invited the U.S. Mint officials to come and see some ways to improve the coinage. He made several dies to use to demonstrate. The methods were viewed and Harper kept the dies. Several years later the mint seized the dies so Harper could not counterfeit the cents. There are two different types. One of them dies not have edge lettering. Harper probably used this in his demonstration for conveniences sake and the other type has edge lettering. After the dies were seized from Harper the mint probably used the dies to make coins because they were not going to waste perfectly useable dies.
Gold is glittering for investors, with prices now topping a record $4,000 an ounce. But the reasons behind the shiny metal's surge may be less than dazzling, with Wall Street analysts saying it reflects growing unease over the U.S. economy and political stability.
The price of gold has leaped 53% this year alone, far outpacing the 15% gain in the S&P 500 stock index over the same period. The price of an ounce of gold edged higher on Wednesday, touching $4,078, according to financial data company FactSet, with some analysts predicting it to go higher. Gold prices reached a record on Oct. 7 with the precious metal topping $4,000 an ounce. Analysts say investors are turning to gold amid unease about the U.S. economy and political stability.
Investors have long turned to gold during periods of economic turmoil and high inflation, viewing it as both a safe haven when markets turn volatile and a hedge against rising prices. Of late, however, stock prices have steamed to record highs this year, economic growth has accelerated in recent months and inflation this year has remained relatively subdued, prompting questions about what's fueling investors' renewed appetite for gold.
"$4,000 an ounce seemed far-fetched at the start of the year as gold entered 2025 near $2,800 an ounce. But after a ~50% rally, here we are," eToro U.S. investment analyst Bret Kenwell said in an email. The reasons for the surge boil down to several economic and political factors, according to Kenwell and other investment analysts.
Economic uncertainty
Gold is often a refuge for investors when they're worried about the economy, and the ongoing U.S. government shutdown is only fueling their anxieties, according to Nigel Green, CEO of investment firm deVere Group. "The situation in Washington has reminded investors that political promises do not equate to financial security. Gold represents protection from that uncertainty, but its price now also reflects how much faith has drained from other assets. That level of dependence always carries risk," Green said in an email.
Although the economy continues to expand, investors are also expressing concern about potential headwinds to growth, including the impact of U.S. tariffs and a weakening job market, according to economists. Federal agencies currently aren't releasing economic data due to the government shutdown, now in its second week. That makes it more difficult to get a handle on the state of the economy, said Kevin Ford, FX and macro strategist at Convera.
"The US economy remains a challenge to read due to the ongoing government shutdown, which has severely diminished visibility," Ford noted. "However, the shutdown is a material headwind: S&P Global Ratings estimates it could trim GDP growth by 0.1−0.2 percentage point for every week the government remains closed."
Fed rate cuts
In September, the Federal Reserve lowered its benchmark interest rate for the first time since late 2024 and signaled that two more cuts could be in the cards later this year.
Gold has risen partly due to investor expectations that the Fed is entering a cycle of easing its monetary policy, according to Bart Melek, head of commodity strategy at TD Securities. With interest rates seemingly heading lower, gold is more attractive as a financial asset because investors aren't losing out on higher yields from Treasuries and other government bonds, he told investors in a report. And with inflation drifting up due to the impact of the Trump administration's tariffs, gold can also continue to offer an inflation hedge.
Gold "may be a better safe-haven than Treasuries," Melek wrote. "Add to that the fact that ore grades are dropping, the increased use of these factors of production suggests that gold would be better at protecting purchasing power."
Global gold demand
Investments in gold have also been driven by other factors. Analysts point to strong gold demand from central banks around the world amid heightened geopolitical tensions, such as the ongoing wars in Gaza and Ukraine. "The gold rally started in 2022," Giovanni Staunovo, commodity analyst at UBS Global Wealth Management, said via email on Tuesday. The "trigger point" for the increase was when the U.S. and other Western allies moved to freeze around $300 billion of Russian foreign holdings at the beginning of the war in Ukraine, he added.
Central banks in other nations are "the quiet force behind this climb," deVere's Green said. "They are buying close to one thousand [tons] of gold each year to reduce exposure to the dollar and to reinforce their financial resilience. When official institutions keep accumulating at this rate, they create a strong foundation beneath the market, but even that has limits."
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Edge lettering is a technique that involves placing letters or symbols on the edge of a coin rather than on its obverse (front) or reverse (back). Edge lettering on coins can function as an extra security measure or an aesthetic or stylistic choice. Examples of modern U.S. coins that include edge lettering are Presidential Dollars which have inscriptions such as the date, mint mark, and mottos, "E PLURIBUS UNUM" and "IN GOD WE TRUST," adorning their edges.
Yes, the U.S. Mint produced three-cent coins in two distinct varieties: the Three-Cent Silver (1851-1873) and the Three-Cent Nickel (1865-1889). The three-cent coin was first introduced in 1851 as an answer to postage rates decreasing from five cents to three and the need for a small-denomination coin that could be easily exchanged for foreign coins accepted in the U.S. at the time. Three Cent Silver coins were produced from 1851 to 1873, while Three Cent coins composed of nickel were produced from 1865 to 1889.
The fascinating history of these coins reveals their practical origins and wartime adaptations. The 3-Cent silver piece was initially produced with low-grade silver content, though it was increased to 90% silver in 1854. Meanwhile, Three-piece Nickels were issued to help mitigate the hoarding of silver coins during the American Civil War.
