What is the oldest coin that is still legal tender today?

smprfi

Don't know the answer to this one myself.

MacCoin

I am not sure but I think any U.S. mint coins are legal tender in the U.S. but what about the old darkside coins like the mites????

wingedliberty

As far as I know, all United Stated Federal coinage is still legal tender, just don't spend that 1856 cent at Walmart, I'll be watching ya!

DominusDeus

1787 fugio cents should still be legal tender, as should be the 1792 Half disme/disme, silver center cent and birch cent.

Though spending them would be incredably stupid, as you can buy houses with those things.

BillJones

The Coinage Act of 1965 made every regular issue coin that the U.S. has issued from 1793 to date legal tender. Interestingly enough the half cents and large cents where not legal tender until then. That along with the fact large cent was too heavy to carry in quantity and the half cent was "a poor man's coin" made those coins unpopular in their day. The 1965 Coinage Act also restored legal tender to the Trade Dollar, which had lost its legal tender status in the second half of the 19th century.

My guess would be that the 1792 half disme has legal tender. It was issued with the standards that were spelled out in the Coinage Act of 1792, which created the underpinnings for our modern monetary system.

I don't think that the 1787 Fugio Cent is legal tender. It was produced by a private contractor for the government before the Coinage Act of 1792. After the coins were delivered it was found that they were under weight, and the government never really embraced them. That's just speculation on my part, however.

Dennis88

<< <i>My guess would be that the 1792 half disme has legal tender. It was issued with the standards that were spelled out in the Coinage Act of 1792, which created the underpinnings for our modern monetary system.
>>



Don't think so. I believe they are patterns, and not minted for circulation. They circulated yes, but weren't intendend to do.

Dennis

BillJones

<< <i>

<< <i>My guess would be that the 1792 half disme has legal tender. It was issued with the standards that were spelled out in the Coinage Act of 1792, which created the underpinnings for our modern monetary system.
>>



Don't think so. I believe they are patterns, and not minted for circulation. They circulated yes, but weren't intendend to do.

Dennis >>



There has always been a debate on this one. George Washington in his annual message to Congress called the 1792 half disme "a small beginning in coinage" because there was a need for them. From a technical aspect, you are probably right, but from a practical aspect the 1792 half dismes were the first coins produced under standards set out by the 1792 Coinage Act, which circulated to a great degree.