- August 3
- In England, an Order in Council decrees that future gold coins would be the sovereign (20 shillings) and half sovereigns (10 shillings), 22-karats fine, with no more guineas or 7-shilling pieces. [309.76]
1817
-
- In England, the first gold sovereigns depicting St. George slaying the dragon are stuck. [309.78]
1818
- January 1
- Passing of copper tokens becomes illegal in England. [495.94]
1831
-
- A hoard of 360,000 medieval coins is discovered in Tutbury, England. [625.7]
1832
- June 5
- Belgium authorizes a franc coin, based on the French model. [411.46] [498.66]
1836
- March 23
- Coin Press invented by Franklin Beale. [1]
1839
- January 15
- Texas adopts the silver and gold coins of the USA as their official monetary standard. [400.94]
1855
- May 14
- A branch of the Royal Mint opens in Sydney, New South Wales for coinage of gold sovereigns. [309.95]
1857
- February
- The US Mint discontinues production of the half cent. [436.97]
- February 21
- US Mint Act provides for a cent composed of 12 percent nickel and 88 percent copper, weighing 72 grains, measuring 0.75 inch diameter; also ends the striking of half cents, and removes legal tender status of foreign coins in the United States except Spanish pillar dollar and Mexican dollar. [411.58] [444.70] [460.22] [464.42] [474.162] [479.28] [602.34] [699.24]
- May 25
- The US Mint releases Flying Eagle cents to circulation, first American small cents (0.75 inch diameter). [460.22] [463.38] [464.42]
1858
- October 21
- The Austrian Empire demonetizes the Maria Theresa talers. [445.60]
- December 12
- First coins of the Province of Canada, 421,000 1-cent coins, are released to circulation. [1] [420.80] [574.62]
1860
- April 4
- Finland adopts the markka as currency, divided into 100 pennia. [538.58]
1869
- November 11
- Jamaica Council authorizes penny and half-penny copper-nickel coins be struck. [542.38] [559.66]
- December 28
- Steam-powered minting equipment is installed at the mint in Potosi, Mexico. [464.44]
1870
- February 12
- Official proclamation sets April 15 as last day of grace for US silver coins to circulate in Canada. [1]
- April 15
- Last day US silver coins are allowed to circulate in Canada. [1] [618.77]
1872
- June 12
- A branch of the Royal Mint opens in Melbourne, Victoria for coinage of gold sovereigns. [309.95]
1873
- February 12
- The US Mint Act of 1873 is signed into law:
- the mint is established as a bureau within the Treasury Department;
- the silver dollar, 2-cent, silver 3-cent, and silver half dime are discontinued;
- half dollar weight increases from 192 grains to 192.904 (12.5 grams), with quarter dollar and dime set proportionately;
- a $3 gold coin is authorized;
- a Trade dollar is established as 420 grains of 0.900 fine silver.
[1] [416.108] [421.1,132] [448] [466.38] [504.79] [646.18] [657.51] [688.30]
1874
- January 29
- US Congress passes an act allowing the Bureau of the Mint to produce coinage for foreign governments. [456.61] [733.138] (January 3 [466.79] [568.58] [609.81])
1875
- March 3
- US Congress authorizes 20-cent coin, lasts only three years. [1]
- September 29
- The National Mint is established in Buenos Aires, Argentina. [441.34] [551.22]
1878
- February 12
- The Bland-Allison Act eliminates the Trade dollar, and provides for a new silver dollar of 412.5 grains. The Act requires the US Treasury purchase $2-4 million in silver bullion, for silver dollar production. [471.28] [584.10]
- February 16
- Silver dollar became US legal tender. [1]
- February 28
- US Congress enacts the Bland-Allison Act (over President Rutherford B. Hayes' veto), requiring the US Treasury to buy silver at market rates and coin it as silver dollars, and authorizes silver certificates of deposit. [1] [388.188] [603.56]
- May 2
- US stops minting 20-cent coin. [1]
1881
- February 14
- The Casa de Moneda opens in Argentina. [477.74]
- (month unknown)
- Switzerland begins striking the 20-rappen coins from nickel, the world's first all-nickel coin. [392.71]
1889
- August 13
- William Gray patents coin-operated telephone. [518.70]
1890
-
- In Afghanistan, Abdur Rahman sets up a modern mint in Kabul with British minting machinery and advice. System of coins: 60 paisa equal to 1 rupee. [283.31]
- September 26
- US stops minting $1 and $3 gold coin and 3-cent piece. [1] [388.80] [646.18]
- November 22
- In England, a proclamation demonitizes all gold coins issued before the reign of Queen Victoria. [309.89]
1895
- February 20
- US Congress changes designation of the Denver Assay Office to Denver Mint, with authority to strike gold and silver coins. [1] [699.24]
1897
- May 27
- Mexican Congress authorizes the Cap and Ray design peso coins. [410.80] [415.52]
1899
- June 20
- A branch of the British Royal Mint opens in Perth, Western Australia for coinage of gold sovereigns. [309.95]
1900
- March 14
- US Congress passes the Gold Standard Act, fixing gold value of dollar at 25.8 grains, 0.900 fine as standard unit of money of the US. [484.110] [606.38] [709.36]
1901
- April 1
- Spanish doubloons are no longer valid as currency in Jamaica. [616.52]
- (month unknown)
- Coins of Afghanistan begin showing the name "Afghanistan". [283.31]
1902
- July 1
- US Congress establishes a Mint at Manilla for the Philippines. [446.58]
1903
- March 2
- Philippine Coinage Act fixes weight and fineness of Philippine coins. [603.56] [706.70]
1904
- June 28
- Panama law creates its decimal coinage system. [446.58]
1906
-
- Philadelphia firm Numismatists, S.H. and R.H. Chapman conduct auction of Harlan P. Smith collection. An 1822 $10 gold coin sells for $2165, a record price for any single US coin. [205.32]
1908
- January 2
- Canadian Governor General Earl Grey formally opens the Ottawa branch of the British Royal Mint. He strikes the first coin minted in Canada, a 50-cent piece. Countess of Grey strikes the first bronze cent. 1000 specimen sets are struck to mark the occasion. [3] [416.58]
1909
- August 2
- The US Mint releases the Lincoln cent to circulation. [1] [421.68] [465.62] [471.56]
1910
- May 14
- Canada authorizes issuing of silver dollar coins. [1]
1911
- October
- At the British Royal Mint, trial strikings are made of a Canadian 1911 silver $1 coin. These pieces later become Canada's most valuable coins, though not truly coins. [3]
1912
- May
- The Ottawa branch mint of the British Royal Mint strikes Canada's first $5 and $10 gold coins. [3]
1913
- March 4
- The US Mint releases the Indian Head nickel to circulation. [472.60]
1918
- April 23
- The Pittman Silver Coinage Act is approved, mandating the melting of up to 350 million silver dollar coins, and sale of silver bullion from US Treasury stock. [393.60] [488.36]
1919
-
- Afghanistan coins switch from the lunar Islamic Hejira calendar to the solar Hejira calendar. [283.31]
1920
- April 15
- The size of the Canadian 1-cent coin is reduced to a 3/4-inch diameter, similar to the American cent. [3]
- July 15
- The Manila Mint in the Philippines begins coining bronze 1-centavo coins for circulation. This is the first official coinage of the Philippines under US administration. [442.24] [513.22]
1921
- February 14
- Canadian 5-cent nickel coin is authorized. [1]
1922
- January 3
- Canadian Governor General Julian Byng strikes the first two nickel 5-cent coins of Canada, at the mint in Ottawa. [3]
1925
-
- In Afghanistan, the decimal system of money, 100 puls to the afghani, is introduced, with the gold amani coin worth 20 afghanis. Copper-based coins of 2-, 5-, 10-, and 20-puls are introduced. [283.31]
1929
-
- In Afghanistan, Baccha-i-Saqao switches back to lunar calendar, issuing 5,10,20 paise coins in brass. [283.31]
- In Afghanistan, Muhammad Nadir Shah switches back to solar calendar, issuing 10 and 20 paise coins in copper,1 qiran in 0.5 silver, 1 rupee in 0.9 silver, and 30 rupees in 0.9 gold. [283.31]
- Afghanistan coins switch back to decimal system, 100 pul equal to 1 afghani, 20 afghani equal to 1 amani. Coins issued are 2,10,20 pul in copper, 50,100 pul in silver, and 20 afghani in gold. [283.37]
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