National Currency Collection

United States of America, 1 dollar : 1799

Story

Currency’s metric system

The Russians, under Peter the Great, had a great idea: divide your money into units of 100. As Russian economic policy had little influence outside of Russia, Europe continued to use the Carolingian system of pounds and pennies. Basically, 1 pound of silver was divided into 20 shillings or 240 pennies. The fluctuating value of silver made this a problematic system not to mention the maddening conversions required when the British pound was further divided unequally into crowns, farthings and half-pence. In 1792, the American Congress adopted the decimal system for their first currency and over the next few generations, so did the rest of the world; except for the U.K., which finally adopted it in 1971.

Item Details

Categorization

Collection
Coin
Class
Modern
Name
Precious metal
Form
Circulating

Locations

Country
United States of America

Denominations

1 dollar

Dates

Dated
1799

Authorities

Issuing authority
United States Mint

Designs

Subject Obverse
Liberty
Subject Reverse
Heraldry / bird - animal
Motif Obverse
Personification of Liberty surrounded by 13 stars
Motif Reverse
Heraldic eagle

Production Types

Mint
Philadelphia

Specifications

Edge Treatment
Engrailed edge
Preparation Method
Machine struck

Measurements

Object

Thickness
2.30mm
Diameter
39.90mm
Axis
180.00degrees

Materials

Object
Silver

30 Bank Street
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