03/02/2026
It looks like we’re going to have some new material this year! I’m thinking these will make some nice dangly earrings if domed.
On March 1, 1793, the United States Mint struck the nation’s first circulating coins: 11,178 copper cents.
These early cents sparked public debate. They were larger than a modern quarter, bulky for small change, and Liberty’s hair appeared streaming behind her, with some critics saying she looked “in a fright.” The reverse featured a chain of 15 links representing the states, but some viewed the design negatively. The Mint quickly replaced the chain with a wreath and, a few months later, introduced a new depiction of Liberty.
Liberty remained a central figure on circulating U.S. coinage through 1947, underscoring her importance as a defining national symbol.
This year, for the first time in 80 years, depictions of Liberty will appear on U.S. circulating coins. The Emerging Liberty Dime obverse depicts a determined Liberty, the winds of change wafting through her hair, as she faces the tyranny of monarchical rule with steadfast resolve. Her Liberty cap bears stars and stripes, a symbol of our burgeoning nation and a reference to early American coinage.
Look for it in your change!
https://www.usmint.gov/coins/coin-programs/semiquincentennial/
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