Four Main Types of US Coins
There are four main types of US coins, some of which are less commonly used. First, there are the four main coins that are minted for general circulation, meaning these coins are specifically made for the public to use in everyday transactions. These four main US coins are: the cent (or penny), the nickel, the dime, and the quarter.
The Cent (or Penny)
The US cent, commonly called the penny, was first minted in 1793. At that time, the coin was much larger than it is today, about the size of a half dollar. The first design was called “Flowing Hair”, and it applied to all coins of the time. The term “penny” is derived from the British coin, and it is commonly used to describe the US cent. The very first cent coin, called the Fugio cent, was issued in 1787 and was designed by Benjamin Franklin.
In the current design, the cent features Abraham Lincoln’s side profile and “In God We Trust” is written on the top of the coin, while “Liberty” is inscribed on the left and the year on the right. The reverse side features a shield and 13 stripes, representing the original 13 colonies.
Nickel
The US nickel was first minted in 1792, but it was officially named in 1866. At that time it was called the half dime, and the coin was primarily made of a mixture of nickel and copper, but it was named nickel because it had more copper.
Currently, the nickel features an image of Thomas Jefferson, and his home “Monticello” is seen on the reverse. The words “In God We Trust” and “Liberty” are inscribed on the coin.
Dime
The US dime was also first minted in 1792, but the coins were first issued for general use in 1796. The first “dime” was called a “dime”, and its weight and value was one-tenth of a dollar. The current dime has a profile of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The reverse of the coin has an image of an olive branch, oak branch and torch, which symbolize freedom, strength and peace.
Quarter
The US quarter coin was first issued in 1796, and its first design was the “Draped Bust”. In the current design, the quarter has an image of President George Washington. The reverse has a scene of Washington crossing the Delaware River, and the coin mentions “Quarter Dollar”.
Other Coins That Are No Longer in General Use
Apart from the above four coins, there are two more coins that were used earlier, but have now been removed from general use. These coins are the “half dollar” and the “dollar coin”. These coins are now minted as collectible coins, but they are less used in general transactions. The half dollar bears an image of President John F. Kennedy, and on its reverse is a lion symbol.
Finally, if you want to learn more about the history of US coins, it is essential to understand the role of these four major coins and their evolution.
FAQS:
What are the four categories of United States coins?
These four categories of United States coins are general circulation coins Cent (Penny) Nickel Dime Quarter
Why is called the U.S. Cent “Penny”?
The etymological rationale for the use of the term “Penny” is the British coin that once shared this designation. As the term rapidly got around, it just started referring to the U.S. penny.
When was the first U.S. Penny made?
The first official U.S. Penny was created in 1793 and sported the “Flowing Hair” design, though a prior coin called the Fugio Cent was struck under the design by Benjamin Franklin in 1787.