The first officially sanctioned coinage to circulate in the United states was the Spanish Real, or piece of eight. See my listing under US silver coins for the history and photo of this coin. It was recognized until 1857. But as early as 1762, the colonists had began minting their own coinage, using British denominations as a guide. During this time, there were countless types of coins and tokens minted for use in daily business activities. It wasn't until 1781 that the government adopted the Articles of Confederation that provided that Congress should be a regulatory agency with regard to state-issued coinage. Finally in 1792, the units used today of dollar, and it's fractional units were adopted. The very first officially minted US coin was the Half-disme (dime), struck at the newly built Mint in Philidelphia in July 1792. The rest is history. I am pleased to offer you a variety of collectible American coins. Collecting Coins is a most rewarding and educational hobby that is appropriate for all ages. All coins are presented in As-Found condition with no cleaning or other alterations. A note regarding coin grading: I am not a certified Numismaticist and unless a coin is specifically described as officially graded, the grades assigned to the coins I offer are based strictly on personal observation using the Official A.N.A. Grading Standards For United States Coins by the American Numismatic Association as a guideline. Grading is not an exact science and is largely based on the opinions of the expert. Several experts are likely to give slightly differing grades of the same coin. So, while I can guarantee a coin's authenticity, I can not guarantee the coin's grade. The grade is offered for informational and descriptive purposes only. |
