1777
- February 20
- Continental Congress committee on Treasury recommends a mint be established for coining money. [183.58]
1782
- February 21
- US congress resolves the establishment of a US mint. [6]
1783
- April 2
- Robert Morris strikes first 1783 Nova Constellatio patterns. [193.52]
- April 23
- Superintendent of Finance Robert Morris submits examples of pattern 1783 Nova Constellatio coins to Congress. [4.60] [24.42]
1784
- May 1
- Superintendent of Finance Robert Morris sends Thomas Jefferson examples of 1783 Nova Constellatio coin patterns. [25.60]
- May 11
- US Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson presents five silver 1783 Nova Constellatio patterns to Secretary of Congress Charles Thomson. [30.32]
1785
- May 13
- The Continental Congress committee reports on plans for a coinage. [28.88]
- July 6
- The dollar (and decimal coinage) is unanimously chosen by the Continental Congress as the monetary unit for the United States. The US is the first nation to adopt decimal system of currency. The silver dollar coin is to contain 375.64 grains of silver. [6] [8] [39.56] [66.46] [115.36] [165.9]
- August 22
- William Barton submits his outline for the establishment of a Mint to the Continental Congress. [47.60]
- October 20
- The Connecticut General Court authorizes coining up to 10,000 pounds of copper coins with an emblem of Liberty. [60.60]
1786
- August 8
- The American Continental Congress defines a silver dollar containing 375.64 grains of silver as the nation's unit of account. [1.188] [44.67]
- September 20
- Continental Congress passes ordinance for establishing a Mint and regulating value and alloy of coinage. [136.72] [264.42]
- October 16
- Continental Congress authorizes coinage system of gold piece valued at $10, silver piece at $1, tenth dollar in silver, and copper penny. [125.34] [140.36] [286.44]
- October 17
- The Commonwealth of Massachusetts authorizes a mint for striking gold, silver, and copper coinage. [66.70]
1787
- April 21
- Congress authorizes James Jarvis to coin 300 tons of Fugio cents. [99.36]
- June 1
- Authority is granted for a New Jersey coinage. [81.12]
- July
- James Jarvis signs contract with Confederation Treasury to produce US copper coins. [262.67]
1788
- May 21
- James Jarvis & Co. delivers 400,000 Fugio cents to the national government. [29.60] [34.84] [104.36]
- September 16
- US Treasury Board voids contract with James Jarvis and Company to produce Fugio cents. [53.80] [109.38] [136.72]
1791
- March 3
- US Congress establishes US Mint. [6]
1792
- January 12
- US Senate passes bill authorizing establishment of a federal mint. [7.68] [83.32] [151.80]
- April 2
- US President George Washington signs the Coinage Act, establishing the US Mint; authorizing $10 Eagle, $5 half-Eagle and $2.50 quarter-Eagle gold coins; authorizing silver dollar, half dollar, quarter dollar, dime and half-dime silver coins; authorizing cent and half cent copper coins. The silver dollar is to be equal in value to Spanish milled dollar, with weight 416 grains, 0.8924 fine silver. The half cent is to be struck on pure copper 5.5 pennyweight or 132 grains or 8.55345 grams. Gold and silver coins are legal tender, but copper coins are not. (The silver dollar is specified to contain 317.25 grains silver, compared to 377 grains in the Spanish dollar, leading to export of gold coins and import of silver for recoining.) [5.52] [6] [7.69] [8] [69.22] [86.160] [96.38] [174.25]
- April 14
- US Senate confirms David Rittenhouse as first US Mint director. [22.56]
- May 8
- US Congress approves copper purchase for coinage, and outlaws private copper coinage. [26.44] [198.58]
- July 9
- President George Washington authorizes striking of the half disme. [36.73]
- July 11
- Thomas Jefferson takes $75 worth of silver from George Washington to the Philadelphia Mint to be coined. [40.44]
- July 18
- The US buys the site for the Philadelphia Mint for $5466.66. [41.58]
- July 31
- David Rittenhouse lays foundation stone for Philadelphia Mint. [43.68] [75.64] [119.32] [239.28]
- September 7
- The US Mint purchases first copper for coining: 6 pounds of old copper at 1 shilling, 2 pence per pound. [108.44] (September 8 [133.36])
- December 17
- Mint Chief Coiner Henry Voigt (likely on this day) strikes a few pieces of Silver Center copper cents. [77.42] [144.64] [189.30]
1793
- January 1
- Representative Elias Boudinot recommends portrait of Christopher Columbus be placed on first US coinage. [80.79]
- January 14
- President George Washington approves bill amending coin Act, changing weight of half cent to 104 grains (6.74 grams) and cent to 208 grains (13.48 grams). [69.22] [151.80] [153.42]
- February 9
- US Mint Act signed into law, limiting legal tender status of foreign coins to Spanish dollars and fractions three years after commencement of gold and silver coinage at the US mint. Foreign silver and gold coins are legal tender by their content. [39.56] [86.160] [174.25] [259.30]
- February 27
- The Philadelphia Mint begins production of 1-cent coins for circulation. [153.42] [252.69]
- March 1
- Mint Chief Coiner Henry Voight delivers first Flowing Hair, Chain cents to Mint Treasurer Tristam Dalton. [153.42] [252.69] [289.70]
- March 12
- The Mint ceases production of 1-cent coins, due to lack of blanks. Total production of the Flowing Hair, Chain cent is estimated at 36,103. [153.42]
- April 4
- The Mint resumes production of 1-cent coins, with a wreath replacing the previous chain design. [96.38] [194.44] [252.70] (March 31 [153.42])
- April 10
- US Mint Chief Coiner Henry Voigt delivers 6000 cents to Mint Treasurer. [1.B20] [21.22] [194.44]
- April 19
- Coinage of cents at the Philadelphia Mint is suspended due to lack of planchets. [196.22]
- July 1
- The US Mint Act of 1793 goes into effect. [39.56]
- US Mint suspends coinage of Flowing Hair, Wreath cents. [114.36]
- July 20
- The Philadelphia Mint begins production of 1793 Liberty Cap half cents. [69.24]
- US Mint Chief Coiner Henry Voigt delivers (likely) the first 7000 struck half cents to the Mint treasurer. [117.38]
- August 18
- The Philadelphia Mint closes due to a yellow fever epidemic. [253.68]
- September 18
- The Philadelphia Mint delivers the first batch of 1793 Liberty Cap cents. [69.22] [252.70]
- November 23
- Robert Scot is officially made chief engraver of the Mint. [70.64] [124.193] [131.48] [292.32]
1794
- April 4
- Albion Cox is appointed as US Mint assayer. [5.52] [194.44]
- July 18
- The Bank of Maryland makes the first deposit of silver bullion for coinage at the US Mint, $80,715.735 in French coins. [67.38] [116.22] [239.28] [303.58]
- August 23
- The Bank of North America deposits more than $20,000 in silver at the Philadelphia Mint for coinage. [102.34] [122.32]
- August
- Mint Director David Rittenhouse deposits silver bullion with the Mint for coinage. [303.58]
- September
- Assayer Albion Cox convinces Mint Director David Rittenhouse to make silver coins of 0.900 purity instead of 0.8924, with argument that coins less than 0.900 pure would soon turn black in use. [303.58]
- October 15
- In anticipation of a legal change in silver coin specifications, Mint Director David Rittenhouse orders production of silver dollars at 0.900 fine, 416 grains (374.75 grains silver). (204,791 are produced like this, dated 1794-95, then Rittenhouse resigns, and legal specification coinage resumes.) [174.25]
- The US Mint strikes 1,758 silver dollars, the only day of production for dollar coins for the year. The coinage press is of insufficient power to properly produce the large coins. The coins are struck in 0.900 fine silver, 374.4 grains instead of the legal 0.8924 fine, 371.25 grains, giving the coins a value of 100.85 cents in pure silver. (An estimated 140 survive to today.) [50.4] [58.68] [125.34] [140.36] [182.54] [303.58] (October 14 [291.134])
- December 1
- Chief coiner Henry Voight delivers 5300 half dollars to the Mint treasurer, coined to illegal 0.900 fineness instead of 0.8924, containing 1/2-cent extra silver per coin. [134.38] [303.58] (October 15 [58.68] [114.64] [125.34])
1795
- February 12
- Boston merchant Moses Brown makes first deposit of gold at Philadelphia Mint, $2275.22 in ingots, in payment for receipt of silver coins. [180.132] [259.30]
- March 31
- The US Mint begins producing half dime coins with Robert Scot's Flowing Hair Liberty design. [5.52]
- April 5
- The Philadelphia Mint acquires a half ton of Talbot, Allum & Lee tokens from William Talbot, for reuse as half cent coins. [1.B20]
- April
- By the end of the month, a special coining press for dollars and medals is ready for use. [303.59]
- May 6
- Full-scale production of dollar coins (at illegal 0.900 fineness) begins at the Philadelphia Mint with a new more powerful press. About 4000 coins are struck. [182.54] [303.59]
- June 5
- Last 1795-dated silver dollars are delivered to the Treasury. [303.59]
- June 30
- Mint Director David Rittenhouse resigns due to ill health. [39.56] [182.54] [303.59]
- July
- President George Washington appoints William De Saussure as new Mint Director. [303.59]
- July 31
- Production begins on gold coins for circulation at the Philadelphia Mint. [117.38] [182.55] [303.59]
- The US Mint makes first delivery of gold coins to the Treasury, 744 half eagles. [119.32] [180.132]
- (month unknown)
- (Summer) Artist Gilbert Stuart agrees to produce a new design to replace the Flowing Hair design on the dollar coin. [300.26]
- September
- The Philadelphia Mint begins striking $10 gold eagle coins. [47.15] (September 22 [137.56] [180.132])
- September 17
- The Philadelphia Mint delivers the first 1097 gold eagle coins. [53.80] [109.38] [136.72] [264.42] (September 22 [47.15])
- (month unknown)
- The US Mint begins production of silver dollars with new designs. [182.55] [300.26]
- October 27
- William De Saussure resigns as Director of the US Mint. [43.68] [142.72] [182.55] [303.59]
- October 28
- Elias Boudinot becomes director of the US Mint. [43.126] [182.55]
- November 26
- The Mint makes first delivery of silver coins in the authorized 0.8924+ fineness standard, 33,900 half dimes. [303.84]
- November 27
- With the death of assayer Albion Coxe, all coinage stops. [182.56]
- December 15
- The US Senate confirms Elias Boudinot as Mint director. [189.30]
1796
- January 18
- Philadelphia Mint begins production of dimes for circulation. [152.62] [256.24]
- January 26
- Presidential proclamation reduces weight of half cents. [257.20]
- April 9
- The Philadelphia Mint coins an initial 1,800 1796-dated Draped Bust quarter-dollar coins. [97.32] [194.44]
- July
- The Philadelphia Mint strikes the last Liberty Cap cents, due to lack of copper. [252.73]
- September 21
- Philadelphia Mint begins production of gold quarter eagles. [137.56] [301.26]
- October
- The Philadelphia Mint received an order of 350,000 copper planchets and sheet copper for about 400,000 planchets from Governor & Company of England. [252.73]
- November
- The Philadelphia Mint begins striking cents with Robert Scot's draped bust Liberty design. [252.73]
- December 12
- The US Mint receives Talbot, Allum & Lee tokens from William Talbot for recoinage as half cents. [135.42]
1797
- May 26
- The Mint delivers the last half dollars of the 18th century. [303.84]
- July 22
- George Washington issues a proclamation indefinitely extending the legal tender status of Spanish milled dollar. [42.62]
- July 31
- President John Adams sets July 31, 1798 as date after which only US and Spanish coins are legal tender. [119.32]
- October 15
- Foreign silver coins except Spanish milled dollars cease to be legal tender. [58.68]
1798
- July 23
- First Heraldic Eagle silver dismes are delivered. [42.62]
- July 31
- Foreign gold coins cease to be legal tender in the USA. [119.32]
- President John Adams issues proclamation extending circulation of foreign coins, due to coin shortage. [43.68]
- August 17
- The Philadelphia Mint shuts for yellow fever outbreak. [252.76]
- November
- The Philadelphia Mint re-opens following yellow fever outbreak. [252.76]
1799
- August 26
- The Philadelphia Mint is closed due to a yellow fever epidemic, and remains closed for two months. [114.93]
1800
- March 14
- A Senate committee recommends abolishing the US Mint. [43.126]
- May 5
- The US Senate passes a bill seeking to abolish the Mint and contract for coinage with the Bank of the United States. [43.128]
1801
- August 17
- Treasurer of the Mint delivers 1000 cents to the Bank of the United States. [46.68]
- August
- The Mint resumes half dollar coinage, with a heraldic eagle design. [303.84]
- August 26
- Ship New Jersey leaves England with 25 tons of cent planchets from Matthew Boulton for US Mint. [102.34]
1802
- January 29
- Representative William Giles of Virgina introduces a bill calling for the abolishment of the Mint. [43.130]
- March 3
- The US Senate passes a bill to continue the Mint, and allow it to remain in Philadelphia. [43.130]
- April 2
- Representative William Giles of Virgina introduces a bill to repeal the Act Establishing a Mint, and directing the President to liquidate its assets. [43.130] [294.42]
- April 26
- The House of Representatives passes the bill to abolish the Mint. [43.130]
- May 3
- All foreign gold and silver coins cease to be legal tender in the USA for three years. [25.60] [100.48]
- December 17
- Representative John Randolph of Virginia introduces a bill to abolish the Mint. [43.130]
1803
- March 1
- The House of Representatives passes a bill to continue the Mint, as previously passed by the Senate. [43.130]
- March 3
- The President signs into law the bill extending the existence of the US Mint. [43.130]
- June
- Mint Director Elias Boudinot orders a trial suspension of minting of silver dollar coinage. [246.40] [300.26]
- August
- Mint Director Elias Boudinot suspends coinage of dollars due to their main use in export profiteering. [182.58]
- December
- Coinage of silver dollars resumes. [182.58]
1804
- March 28
- President Thomas Jefferson suspends coinage of silver dollars, to stop the practice of profiteers exporting them to the West Indies, exchanging them for Spanish dollars, and importing them for recoinage at the Philadelphia Mint. [174.26] [300.27] (March 27 [246.40]) (April [182.58])
- May
- The first American-mined gold is deposited at the Philadelphia Mint for coinage. [133.78]
1805
- May 3
- Spanish milled dollar coins resume legal tender status in the USA. [25.60]
- December 23
- US Senate confirms Robert Patterson as Mint director. [148.24] [190.24]
1806
- March 27
- A bill is introduced in Congress for coinage of 2-cent coin and 20-cent coin. [302.42]
- April 10
- In the USA, an Act fixes the legal tender value of gold coins of Great Britain, Portugal, France, Spain, and silver coins of Spain and France. [1.B20]
- May 1
- Secretary of State James Madison instructs U.S. Mint Director Robert Patterson to cease coinage of silver coins larger than the half dollar due to exportation of silver dollars by the Bank of the United States. [197.60] [300.27]
1807
- February 13
- The US Senate passes the bill proposing coinage of 2-cent and 20-cent pieces. [302.42]
1808
- February 26
- The US Mint strikes 2710 copies of the Capped Draped Bust gold $2.50 quarter eagle. [36.24]
1814
- February 15
- President James Madison appoints Adam Eckfelt as chief coiner. [183.58]
1816
- January 10
- 47,150 half dollars dated 1815 with the "5" punched over a "2" are delivered from the Mint to the coining department. These are the only 1815-dated half dollars produced. [218.26]
- January 11
- A disasterous fire closes down the Philadelphia Mint. The fire destroys rolling and milling machinery used to make planchets for gold and silver coins. [82.32] [218.26]
- April 10
- Congress passes the Act Regulating the Currency of Foreign Coins in the United States. [21.22] [97.32]
- April 29
- Congress approves legal tender status for French silver 5-franc coins, and orders assays of British and Portuguese coins. [197.60]
- June 24
- The Philadelphia Mint begins using steam power for the strip rolling mills. [39.94]
1823
- March 3
- An act of Congress fixes the value of gold coins of Great Britain, Portugal, France, Spain, Brazil, Mexico, and Columbia. [185.56]
1824
- January 28
- William Kneass is appointed chief engraver of the US Mint. [52.20] (January 29 [153.68])
1825
- January 3
- US Senate confirms Samuel Moore as Mint director. [150.58]
1827
- July 25
- The US Mint begins striking Gobrecht Seated Liberty half dimes. [74.40]
1828
- May 19
- Congress authorizes the Mint to continue operation until otherwise provided by law. [43.130]
1829
- July 4
- US President Andrew Jackson lays the cornerstone for the second Mint building at the corner of Chestnut and Juniper Streets in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [6] [25.20] (Mint Director Samuel Moore lays the cornerstone [39.56] [114.36])
1831
- April 18
- The President authorizes coinage of silver dollars again. [300.27]
1834
- June 28
- Congress reduces gold in dollar from 27 grains to 25.8, and fineness to 0.899225, and changes the silver to gold ratio from 15-to-1 to 16.002-to-1. This sets the value of gold at $20.689 per ounce. [38.60] [113.40] [177.10] [179.26]
- November
- Chief Coiner Adam Eckfeldt supervises striking of 1804-dated silver dollar coins. [246.46]
- (month unknown)
- By year's end, two sets of nine coins, including 1804 $1 and $10 have been struck. [300.28]
1835
- January
- Two more sets of nine coins, including 1804 $1 and $10 are struck. [300.28]
- March 3
- Congress establishes Branch Mints at Charlotte, North Carolina; Dahlonega, Georgia; and New Orleans, Louisiana; and establishes use of Mint marks on US coinage. [6] [92.62] [115.91] [119.92]
- March 31
- US Secretary of State John Forsyth writes to Mint Director Samuel Moore asking for two more sets of US coins (including 1804 $1 and $10) for presentation to rulers of Japan and Cochin China. [307.35]
- April 21
- US special diplomatic agent Edmund Roberts receives 1834 Proof set to take to King of Siam. [224.25]
- June 19
- The US government purchases the Jackson Square site for the future New Orleans Mint in Louisiana. [6] [36.56] [212.59]
- June 30
- Resignation of Mint Director Samuel Moore takes effect. [246.46]
- July 1
- Robert Maskell Patterson becomes Mint director. [61.58]
- August 3
- The US government purchases the site for the Dahlonega Mint, for US$1050. [43.68] [120.86] [253.68]
- September 22
- Benjamin Towns of Athens, Georgia, contracts to build the Dahlonega Mint for $33,450. [110.40]
- October 1
- A set of 11 current US coins (including an 1804 Draped Bust dollar) is given to the Sultan of Muscat by US officials. [60.88]
- November 2
- The US government purchases the site for the Charlotte Mint for US$1500. [65.52] [292.32]
- November
- The Department of State directs Mint Director Samuel Moore to forward a complete set of US coins to the King of Siam and another to the Sultan of Muscat. (The sets will include newly-struck 1804 silver dollars, on the assumption that others were stuck in 1804.) [172.52]
1836
- March 23
- The Philadelphia Mint begins striking coins with a steam press. [95.34] [297.34]
- April 5
- US Special Agent Edmund Roberts presents King Ph'ra Nang Klao of Siam with a set of 11 US coins, nine dated 1834, plus 1804-dated silver dollar and gold eagle. [60.88] [172.52] [199.9] [224.25]
- August 25
- Mint Director Robert M. Patterson forwards a tin impression of a proposed Gobrecht dollar to Treasury Secretary Levi Woodbury. [48.60]
- November 8
- The Philadelphia Mint begins striking coins for circulation using steam-powered presses; first coin is the 1836 Capped Bust, Reeded Edge half dollar. [39.94]
- The Philadelphia Mint begins coining 1836 Capped Bust, Reeded Edge half dollars. [129.38]
- December 31
- The Mint releases Gobrecht dollar coins to the Bank of the United States for distribution. [149.81] [291.135]
- The US Mint begins striking Seated Liberty silver dollars for circulation. [80.79] [305.24]
1837
- January 18
- US President Andrew Jackson signs coinage bill amending the Mint Act. Some changes:
- the Mint is placed within the responsibility of the Treasury;
- sets dollar price of gold at $20.67 per ounce, silver price at $1.2929 per ounce, silver/gold ratio changed to 15.998-to-1;
- uniform fineness of 0.900 for gold and silver coins;
- changes weight of half disme from 1.35 to 1.34 grams, and alloy from 89.25 to 90 percent silver, and from 10.75 to 10 percent copper;
- establishes a $1 million bullion fund to purchase and coin gold and silver bullion in advance of deposits;
- authorizes Seated Liberty dollar coin.
[36.15] [43.128] [83.32] [111.79] [177.10] [179.26]
- March 31
- US Mint Chief Coiner Eckfeldt delivers 600 Gobrecht dollars dated 1836 struck in medal alignment. [5.52]
- April 22
- Philadelphia Mint ships equipment to Dahlonega Mint. [99.36]
- June 30
- The Philadelphia Mint begins striking Seated Liberty dimes. [39.56]
- July 27
- US Branch Mint opens in Charlotte, North Carolina. [6] [75.64]
- December 4
- Charlotte Mint receives its first deposit of gold, from Irwin & Wilms. [134.38] [305.24]
- December 8
- The Charlotte Branch Mint officially opens for receipt and assay of bullion. [135.42]
1838
- February 12
- Dahlonega Branch Mint officially opens for business with acceptance of bullion and assaying operations. [57.22] [170.56]
- March 8
- US mint in New Orleans begins operation (receiving first deposit of silver bullion, producing dimes). [6] [119.92] [291.36]
- March 27
- The Charlotte Mint begins striking 1838 Classic Head half eagles, first US coins with a mint mark ("C"). [57.22] [192.32] (March 28 [95.34])
- March 31
- The US Mint releases 1838 Seated Liberty, With Stars dimes to circulation. [96.38]
- April 9
- Dies for dimes are shipped from the Philadelphia Mint to the New Orleans Mint. [21.22]
- April 10
- Gold bullion is first deposited at the New Orleans Mint. [97.32]
- April 21
- The Dahlonega Branch Mint begins striking its first coins, 1838 Classic Head half eagles, first US coins with a "D" mint mark. [57.22]
- May 7
- The New Orleans Branch Mint begins operations, striking 1838 Seated Liberty dimes, first US coins with a "O" mint mark. [57.22] [101.32]
- September 29
- The US Mint begins production of Seated Liberty quarter dollars for circulation. [56.34] [118.40]
1839
- January 7
- New Orleans Mint makes last coinage of 1838 Seated Liberty dimes. [150.58]
1840
- December 23
- Christian Gobrecht begins term as US Mint chief engraver. [190.24]
1842
-
- Jacob Eckfeldt and William Du Bois publish A Manual of Gold & Silver Coins, including the first illustration of an 1804 silver dollar. [300.28] [307.35]
1843
- May 9
- Matthew Stickney receives a Proof 1804 Draped Bust dollar coin in trade with Philadelphia Mint. [26.44] [27.22] [200.46] [224.25] [307.35]
1844
- July 23
- End of Christian Gobrecht's tenure as US Mint chief engraver. [117.38]
- July 27
- A fire at the Charlotte Mint halts production of coins. [6] [42.62] [119.32]
- September 16
- US President John Tyler appoints James B. Longacre chief engraver. [252.79]
1848
- December 8
- First gold from the American River in California is delivered to the Philadelphia Mint. [140.72]
- US Secretary of War Maroy sends a message to Mint Director Robert Patterson asking for creation of $2.50 coins from California gold with a distinguishing mark. [238.40]
1849
- January
- First shipment of gold from California is coined into 1,389 quarter eagles, with "CAL." punched into reverse of each coin as a distinguishing mark. [177.100]
- March 2
- Oregon Territorial Governor Joseph Lane declares Oregon City Mint act unconstitutional. [289.70]
- March 3
- US President James Polk signs the Gold Coinage Act into law, authorizes $1 and $20 double eagle gold coins. [6] [22.140] [46.18] [133.78] [177.98] [238.60]
- May 7
- Chief Engraver James Longacre completes master dies for the Coronet gold dollar coin. [133.78]
- May 8
- The US Mint strikes first gold dollars. [177.98] [238.60]
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