The First American and U.S. Coins: An Illustrated History

 

This video illustrates the underlying stories of the first American and U.S. coins.  As the video demonstrates, the story of America itself is closely connected with its coinage.

It’s important for collectors to understand the early history of American and U.S. coins and the precise distinction between the two.

We’ll delve into American colonial coinage and the 1652 New England shilling and the events leading up to the American Revolution.  

During the Articles of Confederation era of 1781-87, there was a confusing array of state-issued coinage and the Fugio cent.

Finally, we get to the Mint Act of 1792 and the beginning of U.S. coins following the adoption of the Constitution.