Pocket Change ! The History of American Coins in the US PBS

Pocket Change: The History of American Coins PBS
Do you like History? Fun Facts? STARZ Hit Show Outlander? I don't know why I thru that in there but most likely as I was binge watching this Season while working on this post and Vlog. I kept wondering "what coins or currency forms Jamie was using…" Now that I've alienated 2/3rds of my readers, tis post is going to be a lot of Historical Geek Facts, an "all-about US Coins" guide and really a "how to" on coin collecting…and, you may not have anything better to do today during your quarantine. So why not learn something new to you !
We will begin our journey with the origin of American Coins in the colonial period. Then…I'll guide you thru the latter half of 18th Century, all the changes in the 19th and 20th Century, and we will wrap it up in today's modern era. You will learn how to identify, find values and much more. You might just come out of this, a coin expert, or…a little geekier than yesterday.
Sound good? Read On….To begin our journey thru the Numismatic History of the United States we must briefly visit America's COLONIAL PERIOD…first off, the word Numismatic, that just mean the study, or collection of currency…. coins, tokens, paper money and related objects….
So, lets back to our early origins…I am talking pre-Revolutionary War and the Colonial Period in the Americas. There was some Colonial Currency at the time, but it was non-Standardized to say the least. Most of your English colonists had simply continued their use of the common British currency of the period. The Pound, Shilling, and Pence….but, as the colonies began to break away commerce from England, these radical colonists began to print their more of their own currency. This proved to be a much better way to support the growth of their new colonies, and give the proverbial "Ye Old Finger," to the Crown.
It remained this way, well after the end of the Revolutionary War in 1783.
The fact is, it was not until The Coinage Act of 1792, 9 years later, that the United States Mint was Established. And the rest is history…
However, the first coin to actually be minted or produced, was The 1792 Half Dime. And there is a legend that the silver in these 1st half dimes actually came from Martha Washington's silverware.
The Half Cent (1793-1857)
Large Cent (1793-1857)
Early Dollar (1794-1804)
Early Half Dollar (1794-1807)
Half Dime (1794-1873)
$5 Gold Piece (1795-1908)
$10 Gold Piece (1795-1907)
The Bust Quarter (1796-1838)
The Bust Dime (1796-1837)
And $2½ Gold Piece (1796-1907)
1807 Capped Bust Half Dollar…
Capped Bust Half Dime (1829-1837) x
Seated Liberty Dollar (1836-1873) x
Seated Liberty Dime (1837-1891) x
Seated Liberty Half Dime (1837-1873) x
Seated Liberty Quarters (1838-1891) x
Seated Liberty Half Dollar (1839-1891) x
$1 Gold Liberty Head
The Double Eagle $20 Gold Piece.
The Three Cents Silver (1851-1872)
$3 Gold Piece known as "The Indian Princess" (1854-1889)
Flying Eagle Cent
Indian Cents of Indian Head Penny
Two Cents (1864-1872)
Three Cent Nickel   (1865-1889)
Shield Nickel  (1866-1883)
US Trade Dollar.
Morgan Silver Dollars
Twenty Cent Piece of  (1875-1878)
1879 $4 Gold Stella (1879-1880)
Liberty Nickel (1883-1913)
1913 V Nickel. Only 5 are known to exist
Charles E Barber
The Barber Quarter (1892-1916)
Barber Dime (1892-1916)
Barber Half Dollar (1892-1915)
$10 Indian
$20 St. Gaudens
$2½ Gold Indian  
$5 Gold Indian  
1909 the Lincoln Cent also known as The Wheat Penny
The 1909-S Lincoln Penny
A 1909-S VDB Lincoln Penny a
James Earle Fraser
Buffalo Nickel
1936 and 37 Three Legged Buffalo
"The End of the Trail"
The Mercury Dime  (1916-1945)
Walking Liberty Half Dollar   (1916-1947) x
And the Standing Liberty Quarter (1916-1930)
1921, the Peace Dollar
Anthony De Francisci
Washington Quarter
Memorial Cent
1943 Lincoln Memorial Penny
The 1943 Bronze Penny
The Jefferson Nickel
Nellie Tayloe Ross
The Franklin Half Dollar (1948-1963)
Roosevelt Dime
John R Sinnock
The Kennedy Half Dollar
The Eisenhower Dollar
Susan B. Anthony Dollar (1979-1999)
Golden Dollars
The Sacagawea Dollar
Presidential Dollars
Lincoln Shield Penny (2010-present)
Grading System
Coin Grading Services
(P-1) Poor
(FR-2) Fair
(G-4) Good
(VG-8) Very Good
(F-12) Fine
(VF-20) Very Fine
(EF-40) Extremely Fine
(AU-50) Almost Uncirculated
(AU-58)
(MS-60) Mint State
(MS-63)
(MS-65)
(MS-68)
(MS-69)
(MS-70) Mint State Perfect
Errors
Double & Triple Strikes Errors and the Off Centers
@Antiques Roadshow PBS @Dr. Lori @What The Hales
numismatics

Пікірлер: 79

  • @jduff59
    @jduff593 жыл бұрын

    I've been going through my pocket change for about 55 years and have found so many memorable coins, and I'm sure many of us could share stories. I had wished to pass on my collection to my kids, but sadly, one passed and the other could "care less" about coins. I really wanted to pass these along to the next generation. Maybe I'll still have an opportunity to - I think it's important for one generation to pass along coins to the next - it's a fantastic gift and that's beyond all of the silver value.

  • @JoshLevineSpeaks

    @JoshLevineSpeaks

    3 жыл бұрын

    Thank you for sharing. There are so many lovers of coins out there and I am sure you will find the right person to caring on the passion when the time is right. Coins have such a great connection to the past. I really wish they could talk sometimes. They are much more than the simple transactions...all my best.

  • @-oiiio-3993
    @-oiiio-39932 жыл бұрын

    The Two Cent Bronze of 1864 - 1872 (and 'proof only' 1873) was, incidentally, the first coin to bear the _In God We Trust_ motto. They have origins in the Civil War coin shortages that also brought about the bronze cent of reduced thickness and copper nickel three and five cent coins. As they are generally collected only as type coins a complete set of 'circulation' Two Cent Bronzes can be had in VF grade at a relatively modest cost with the 1872 being the expensive one. All were minted at Philadelphia. The 1864 'Small Motto', also pricey, is technically a pattern coin and the 1873 was only minted as proof coinage.

  • @-oiiio-3993
    @-oiiio-39932 жыл бұрын

    Three Cent coins were distributed through U.S. Post Offices as it was the common postal rate at the time. During the 'Civil War', silver and gold coinage vanished from circulation and people resorted to use of postage stamps for small change. As raggedy used stamps were being turned in for new ones, causing nuisance, the Three and Five Cent 'Nickels' (75% copper, 25% nickel) were issued beginning in 1865 and 1866, respectively. Three Cent Silver and Silver Half Dimes were minted concurrently, though in ever decreasing numbers. The Civil War coin shortage also resulted in issuance of Fractional Currency notes of three to fifty cents.

  • @skit4brains173
    @skit4brains1734 жыл бұрын

    Nice content. I laughed at the history of Stella and the brothel. Doh!

  • @JoshLevineSpeaks

    @JoshLevineSpeaks

    4 жыл бұрын

    Mow om Ahhhhhh.....is the new mantra !

  • @-oiiio-3993

    @-oiiio-3993

    2 жыл бұрын

    Four Dollar ('Stella') coins were, by definition, pattern coins. They were never issued for circulation.

  • @-oiiio-3993
    @-oiiio-39932 жыл бұрын

    For those seeking silver in their 'pocket change: The last U.S. coins struck and released for circulation with any silver content at all were the Half Dollars (only) dated 1965 through 1970 which were a 'silver clad' composition with net 40% pure silver. Pre - 1965 U.S. Dollars, Half Dollars, Quarter Dollars, and Dimes were 90% silver, 10% copper. Post - 1964 'copper nickel clad' coinage consists of a pure copper core sandwiched between outer layers of 75% copper, 25% nickel which is the same alloy used on the Three Cent 'Nickel' of 1865 - 1889 and for the Five Cent 'Nickel' since its introduction in 1866 with exception of the WW2 era 'War Nickels' which had no nickel in them at all. The composition of U.S. five cent coins changed in mid - 1942. Some 1942 five cent coins from Philadelphia and all from San Francisco, as well as all dated 1943 through 1945 were struck on planchets of 56% copper, 35% silver, 9% manganese and were identified by large mint marks above the dome of Monticello including first use of the 'P' mark for Philadelphia.

  • @1952creswell
    @1952creswell11 ай бұрын

    Correction - (17:30) The Lincoln Penny featuring the Lincoln Memorial on the reverse first appeared in 1959, not 1934.

  • @JoshLevineSpeaks

    @JoshLevineSpeaks

    10 ай бұрын

    Oh yes....i missed that in my edit. Thank you.

  • @debrarowe6686
    @debrarowe66864 жыл бұрын

    How interesting ! Thank you.

  • @JoshLevineSpeaks

    @JoshLevineSpeaks

    4 жыл бұрын

    I am so glad you enjoyed it !

  • @derder517
    @derder5173 жыл бұрын

    Really cool!

  • @JoshLevineSpeaks

    @JoshLevineSpeaks

    3 жыл бұрын

    Thank you ! I really appreciate that.

  • @Grayhairwisdom
    @Grayhairwisdom3 жыл бұрын

    Since you like coins I've just become your subscriber:)!

  • @JoshLevineSpeaks

    @JoshLevineSpeaks

    3 жыл бұрын

    That is so very kind. I love coins. I really like crazy old tokens too.

  • @Grayhairwisdom

    @Grayhairwisdom

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@JoshLevineSpeaks Got a special one yesterday just cleaned it. Would show you but the camera suddenly stopped working:)!

  • @-oiiio-3993

    @-oiiio-3993

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@Grayhairwisdom Cleaning coins is generally a bad idea.

  • @-oiiio-3993
    @-oiiio-39932 жыл бұрын

    The 'Mercury Dime' is actually a misnomer. Designed by A.A. Weinman, who also designed the 'Walking Liberty Half Dollar', the dime depicted a figure of Liberty wearing a Phrygian cap with wings to represent freedom of thought. It was not the Greek god Mercury which would have winged shoes. The 1916 and early 1917 Standing Liberty Quarter Dollars showed a bare breasted liberty, clad in chain mail from mid 1917 onward. The 1916 were not minted until the last week of December resulting in a very low mintage. They are quite valuable.

  • @MbgFire2067
    @MbgFire20673 жыл бұрын

    Zinc coated steel cents were only minted in 1943 with the rare 1944 struck on the wrong planchet. You won’t find any from 1945 or 1946.

  • @JoshLevineSpeaks

    @JoshLevineSpeaks

    3 жыл бұрын

    You are correct. I had a few penny errors in the video. Lincoln memorial date was wrong too. I know better. Don't know how I missed in editing. Most likely from watching it a hundred times to get photo edits. Thanks for watching and I will be making an update soon to correct a lot of this.

  • @-oiiio-3993

    @-oiiio-3993

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@JoshLevineSpeaks Cents. Pennies were British.

  • @bighardsun5759
    @bighardsun57594 жыл бұрын

    I finally watched the whole thing. Awesome!!! Great work.

  • @JoshLevineSpeaks

    @JoshLevineSpeaks

    4 жыл бұрын

    Awesome! Thank you so much...

  • @1952creswell
    @1952creswell11 ай бұрын

    In fairness to his viewers he should have noted that no one will ever "find" a 1913 V Nickel because all 5 of them are in the hands of collectors.

  • @jamessampson5992
    @jamessampson59923 жыл бұрын

    Just subscribed. Great overview of the history of numismatics here... good job guy. Would love to see some more coin/ note videos. Thank u for good content.

  • @JoshLevineSpeaks

    @JoshLevineSpeaks

    3 жыл бұрын

    Thanks James...I would love to tackle the History of US Paper Currency next...i need to bone up on it myself. I really appreciate the kind words.

  • @Caligulashorse1453
    @Caligulashorse14532 жыл бұрын

    I’m trying to learn about colonial coinage pre 1775 still a great video

  • @JoshLevineSpeaks

    @JoshLevineSpeaks

    2 жыл бұрын

    It's hard to find solid info on the colonial coinage. I've wanted to find one on tokens and Exonumia too.

  • @-oiiio-3993
    @-oiiio-39932 жыл бұрын

    The 1792 Half Dismes were pattern coins. The first Half Dimes minted for circulation were 1794.

  • @aaronschen9896
    @aaronschen98962 жыл бұрын

    Very nice, walking liberty half and 10$ indians are the nicest looking us coins

  • @JoshLevineSpeaks

    @JoshLevineSpeaks

    2 жыл бұрын

    I am fan of the Walking Liberties too.

  • @wojkar22
    @wojkar224 жыл бұрын

    this and the silver video are so informative. keep up the good work. ill go watch more

  • @JoshLevineSpeaks

    @JoshLevineSpeaks

    4 жыл бұрын

    Thank you Margaret ! I really appreciate the kind words !

  • @-divinetragedy
    @-divinetragedy3 жыл бұрын

    i have almost all of these, except for the gold. ive always wanted a st gaudens

  • @JoshLevineSpeaks

    @JoshLevineSpeaks

    3 жыл бұрын

    That's awesome. There are some really rare gold one's I've never seen before. You can find good deals on the St Gaudens at estate auctions. Usually just the price of gold. Unless it's a key date or exceptional condition. Thanks for watching...i really appreciate it.

  • @-oiiio-3993

    @-oiiio-3993

    2 жыл бұрын

    The 2009 U.S. Mint piedfort version ('Ultra High Relief - UHR 1) of the St. Gaudens 'Double Eagle' is magnificent. I was fortunate to get one on the day of release. ASG also designed the Ten Dollar 'Indian' with the eagle from T. Roosevelt's inaugural medal on its reverse which would be stunning as a piedfort (double thickness) coin. Among my favorite U.S. (issued) coin designs of all time are the Flying Eagle Cent / Gobrecht Dollar, Bela Lyon Pratt designed Five and 2.5 Dollar 'Indian', Standing Liberty Quarter, and the aforementioned $10 'Indian' (actually Liberty in feathered bonnet). The 2016 gold Standing Liberty commemorative is very impressive and quite beautiful. I'd like to see the Flying Eagle reprised as a circulating coin, perhaps with a Flowing Hair Liberty obverse, both as true to the originals as possible.

  • @-oiiio-3993
    @-oiiio-39932 жыл бұрын

    The United States has never minted a Penny, they were British. The Coinage Act of 1792 established, among other things, a unique quasi - decimal system of United States coinage based on the Spanish Dollar, which enjoyed full legal tender status through 1857. The U.S. Dollar was divided decimally as Cent (.01), Dime (0.10) Dollar (1.0) and Eagle (10.). As the Spanish Dollar was divided into eight Reales, or 'bits', the U.S. Mint would include Half Dollar, Quarter Dollar, and Half Cent coins to accommodate ready exchange (One Real = twelve and a half cents). A Half Dime was also included, as were Half and Quarter Eagle. The coins originally specified and minted were: Gold - Eagle (10.), Half Eagle (05.) Quarter Eagle (2.5) Silver - Dollar Subsidiary Silver - Half Dollar (.50), Quarter Dollar (.25), Dime (.10) Half Dime (.05) Copper - Cent (.01), Half Cent (.005). There was no provision for 'paper money' (currency).

  • @jimmyqdizon8840
    @jimmyqdizon88402 жыл бұрын

    Let's buy all the coins all over the world . I just have couple coins in my safe drawer .. I think it's good enough.

  • @jimmyqdizon8840
    @jimmyqdizon88402 жыл бұрын

    Yes sir alive forever more .

  • @-oiiio-3993
    @-oiiio-39932 жыл бұрын

    The current 'Golden Dollars' are not smaller than the Susan B. Anthony, they are the same size.

  • @-oiiio-3993
    @-oiiio-39932 жыл бұрын

    Other fields of interest in U.S. coinage are Commemoratives and Pattern Coinage not struck for general circulation.

  • @Cp-71
    @Cp-712 жыл бұрын

    Some minor mistakes I caught: 3:47 I think it's a miss not mentioning the flowing hair designs (especially the horribly designed chain cent...). 18:30 Manganese, not magnesium. Fun fact: The coins minted for the Łódź ghetto during WWII actually contained magnesium - which caused people to use them to light furnaces. 24:23 This is G4 - note how the tops of the latters are worn which cannot happen on VG coins. 24:36 Considering The amount of detail, this is probably MS. These are just nitpicks - the video is great! :)

  • @JoshLevineSpeaks

    @JoshLevineSpeaks

    2 жыл бұрын

    Oh yes...i had some blunders after i shot it but it took me so long to do myself, but now I might re do it this year and have some better edits. Thanks so much for the feedback. It really helps and is greaty appreciated.

  • @GULFRAZMAJEEDseye8eyes
    @GULFRAZMAJEEDseye8eyes2 жыл бұрын

    When you mentioned redesigned are you not referring to a reset of a great depression or a certain location depression example is civil war

  • @JoshLevineSpeaks

    @JoshLevineSpeaks

    2 жыл бұрын

    Typically when these things happen. True.

  • @-oiiio-3993
    @-oiiio-39932 жыл бұрын

    Good primer, but with a few errors.

  • @JoshLevineSpeaks

    @JoshLevineSpeaks

    2 жыл бұрын

    Oh yes...i caught a few when i watched it back. Wanted it to be a quick tour and it got a little long. My 1959 Penny error made me cringe. Thanks for watching and all the great feed back !

  • @-oiiio-3993

    @-oiiio-3993

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@JoshLevineSpeaks Stuff happens. You and I may be in the same age range. When I was born Memorial Cents had large or small dates and the flag of the United States had forty nine stars.

  • @adamthomas7126
    @adamthomas71262 жыл бұрын

    Wheat cents were minted 1909-1958 you incorrectly state it that they ended in 1934. The Lincoln memorial cent wouldn’t show up until 1959.

  • @JoshLevineSpeaks

    @JoshLevineSpeaks

    2 жыл бұрын

    Oh yes...i messed that up bad. Corrected in my blog post and script for next edition. I know that well abd have no idea how I did that.

  • @abigailpmm1182
    @abigailpmm11822 жыл бұрын

    Great video. Music is annoying however.

  • @JoshLevineSpeaks

    @JoshLevineSpeaks

    2 жыл бұрын

    Oh yes...i need to redo that one day with better mix.

  • @jpsned
    @jpsned Жыл бұрын

    Hey Josh, a real nice video! Just wanted to point out a few small errors: 8:44 Dahlonega is pronounced duh-LON-eg-uh. 14:43 Re your chart: 1936 pennies are not valuable. (Perhaps you meant 1936 double die?) 15:17 The designer's last name is Fraser, not Frasier. 🙂

  • @JoshLevineSpeaks

    @JoshLevineSpeaks

    Жыл бұрын

    Thanks for watching and yes.....i saw a few blunders after i edited it. I bit off more that i could chew for 1 video. Haven't made one that long since. I really want to do a paer currency episode but have to sit down and write it first.

  • @jpsned

    @jpsned

    Жыл бұрын

    @@JoshLevineSpeaks 🙂👍

  • @GULFRAZMAJEEDseye8eyes
    @GULFRAZMAJEEDseye8eyes2 жыл бұрын

    Have you worked out a coin that was used as a handle weight of a samurai swords in the ancient time of the Roman Empire collaboration with the terracotta army god also the coin was used for weight balance of goods it had a square Hall or hole in the middle of the coin I believe they were made out of Bronze copper

  • @JoshLevineSpeaks

    @JoshLevineSpeaks

    2 жыл бұрын

    Cool stuff !

  • @muhammadahsansaeed9452
    @muhammadahsansaeed94524 жыл бұрын

    Nyc

  • @JoshLevineSpeaks

    @JoshLevineSpeaks

    4 жыл бұрын

    Thanks for liking...i really appreciate it !

  • @joshuamasonseight-bitbasta2451
    @joshuamasonseight-bitbasta24513 жыл бұрын

    Lincoln memorial in 1934? Better check my penny jar.

  • @JoshLevineSpeaks

    @JoshLevineSpeaks

    3 жыл бұрын

    Yeah....i missed that in my edit. I fixed it in my blog. Pretty embarrassing...or "rare" haha !

  • @-oiiio-3993

    @-oiiio-3993

    2 жыл бұрын

    Memorial reverse began in 1959.

  • @herjohnalcover8472
    @herjohnalcover8472 Жыл бұрын

    k

  • @hungchow9978
    @hungchow99783 жыл бұрын

    This is NOT a PBS documentary.

  • @JoshLevineSpeaks

    @JoshLevineSpeaks

    3 жыл бұрын

    No it is not and sorry for confusion. My SEO software suggested the keyword for traffic.

  • @user-ge4rr7xx7h
    @user-ge4rr7xx7h11 ай бұрын

    Sir miron po kami coins 1803 1804 1805 1806 1807 cintiory 1972 1974 1944 1945,pm lang po,sir,

  • @GULFRAZMAJEEDseye8eyes
    @GULFRAZMAJEEDseye8eyes2 жыл бұрын

    Actually eye have three coins Brass 1943-D Abraham Lincoln wheat one cent made of copper eye would be willing to exchange one of mine 1943-D Brass Abraham Lincoln wheat one cent Denver Mint for a decent house without any depth or mortgage and all bills paid for one year anywhere around the world and for a graded 1944-D or 1944 steel Abraham Lincoln wheat one cent and a Tesla vehicle

  • @JoshLevineSpeaks

    @JoshLevineSpeaks

    2 жыл бұрын

    Sounds like a good swap for someone out there.

  • @GULFRAZMAJEEDseye8eyes

    @GULFRAZMAJEEDseye8eyes

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@JoshLevineSpeaks yes I have actually uploaded quite a few videos but unfortunately there is something wrong somewhere for some obscure reason I presume that many people cannot see these videos especially the pricelist ones some of the coins you cannot put a price on

  • @DoubleAAmazin3
    @DoubleAAmazin33 жыл бұрын

    Fiat currency is a really bad idea.

  • @JoshLevineSpeaks

    @JoshLevineSpeaks

    3 жыл бұрын

    I am sure it's days are numbered...

  • @frankenbran85
    @frankenbran855 ай бұрын

    If this dude say printing one more time I'm gonna puke.