Hi Puzzlers,
Have you seen our new puzzle, Loose Change? It makes me smile and reminds me of all the things we do with coins. My cousin Leo loves collecting coins and is always asking us to keep an eye out for his search of the moment. Remember as a kid saving all the loose change you could get your hands on to buy those must-have designer jeans or that awesome new Schwin five-speed bike complete with matching fenders? The funny thing is, most of us still save our loose change for that something special.
American coinage began in 1792 when our founding fathers realized our young country needed a respected monetary system and, with the help of Congress, passed the very first Coinage Act. Shortly after passing this act, the nations first mint was constructed in Philadelphia in 1792. Its first circulation comprised of 11,178 copper cents followed by gold, silver and nickel coins. It is believed that President Washington donated some of his own silver to be minted.
Some of the coin denominations were quite different then those of today. Between 1793-1857 there were copper half-cents; 1864-1873 copper two-cent coins; 1851-1873 silver three-cent coins; 1865-1889 nickel three-cent coins; 1794-1873 you could find half dimes made of silver, and between 1875-1878 silver twenty-cent coins were available. The penny, nickel, dime, quarter, half-dollar and dollar are still in circulation and they are no longer made of silver and gold.
So where did “In God We Trust” come from, you may wonder. In 1861 the treasury department received a letter from a minister requesting that God be recognized on our coinage. Finally, three years later on April 11,1864, through an Act of Congress, the motto “In God We Trust” was first printed on all two-cent coins. Other coins would soon follow suit. “The motto was omitted from all new gold coins issued in 1907, causing a storm of public criticism. As a result, legislation passed in May 1908, made "In God We Trust" mandatory on all coins on which it had previously appeared. On July 11, 1955, Legislation, made the appearance of "In God We Trust" mandatory on all coins and paper currency of the United States. On July 30, 1956, "In God We Trust" became the national motto of the United States.”
Only a few women have been portrayed on our coinage. The first was Susan B. Anthony, a school teacher, women's rights activist, social reformer, editor, and writer. She appeared on a dollar coin which was produced from 1979-1981. Next to appear on the dollar coin was Sacagawea, a Shoshone Indian woman who accompanied Lewis and Clark on their western exploration of the United States. Circulation of this coin began in 1999 and is still in circulation today. Also, Helen Keller appeared on the back of the 2003 Alabama quarter.
WOW! Coins are not only fun to collect and save but rich in history too!
Happy Puzzling!
Have you seen our new puzzle, Loose Change? It makes me smile and reminds me of all the things we do with coins. My cousin Leo loves collecting coins and is always asking us to keep an eye out for his search of the moment. Remember as a kid saving all the loose change you could get your hands on to buy those must-have designer jeans or that awesome new Schwin five-speed bike complete with matching fenders? The funny thing is, most of us still save our loose change for that something special.
American coinage began in 1792 when our founding fathers realized our young country needed a respected monetary system and, with the help of Congress, passed the very first Coinage Act. Shortly after passing this act, the nations first mint was constructed in Philadelphia in 1792. Its first circulation comprised of 11,178 copper cents followed by gold, silver and nickel coins. It is believed that President Washington donated some of his own silver to be minted.
Some of the coin denominations were quite different then those of today. Between 1793-1857 there were copper half-cents; 1864-1873 copper two-cent coins; 1851-1873 silver three-cent coins; 1865-1889 nickel three-cent coins; 1794-1873 you could find half dimes made of silver, and between 1875-1878 silver twenty-cent coins were available. The penny, nickel, dime, quarter, half-dollar and dollar are still in circulation and they are no longer made of silver and gold.
So where did “In God We Trust” come from, you may wonder. In 1861 the treasury department received a letter from a minister requesting that God be recognized on our coinage. Finally, three years later on April 11,1864, through an Act of Congress, the motto “In God We Trust” was first printed on all two-cent coins. Other coins would soon follow suit. “The motto was omitted from all new gold coins issued in 1907, causing a storm of public criticism. As a result, legislation passed in May 1908, made "In God We Trust" mandatory on all coins on which it had previously appeared. On July 11, 1955, Legislation, made the appearance of "In God We Trust" mandatory on all coins and paper currency of the United States. On July 30, 1956, "In God We Trust" became the national motto of the United States.”
Only a few women have been portrayed on our coinage. The first was Susan B. Anthony, a school teacher, women's rights activist, social reformer, editor, and writer. She appeared on a dollar coin which was produced from 1979-1981. Next to appear on the dollar coin was Sacagawea, a Shoshone Indian woman who accompanied Lewis and Clark on their western exploration of the United States. Circulation of this coin began in 1999 and is still in circulation today. Also, Helen Keller appeared on the back of the 2003 Alabama quarter.
WOW! Coins are not only fun to collect and save but rich in history too!
Happy Puzzling!
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