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First 1792 Half Disme spent by Thomas Jefferson 225 years ago today
EagleEye
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On July 13, Thomas Jefferson picked up 1500 five cent coins, called "Half Dismes" from the mint. He would record in his notebook who he would give them to as tips on his journey to Monticello in the next few weeks.
Rick Snow, Eagle Eye Rare Coins, Inc.Check out my new web site:
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Since this one is an early die state, it was among those first 1,500 pieces.
oh my....that's a cool story...nice coin Bill!
According to "1792: Birth of a Nations Coinage" by Pete Smith, Joel Orosz and Leonard Augsburger, Jefferson stayed the night on July 13 in Chester, PA. He paid his bill in Spanish coins, but gave tips to servants in the new coins: 15c to Christiana and 15c to Elkton. These servants were handed the odd new coins that didn't match either the Spanish pieces of eight or the English pounds, shillings and pence. They were the first decimal coins spent in the new world!
Thank you!
I bought that over counter from JJ Teaparty back in 1992.. It was my first "really big coin."
Happy half disme birthday!
I wonder how he pronounced Brasher?
Ahhhhh, to go back in time and smile extra nice to him......maybe I would get a couple of them
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Gallery Mint Museum, Ron Landis& Joe Rust, The beginnings of the Golden Dollar
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Owning one is my ultimate numismatic dream. Based on my budget it will be the only half dime (disme) I will have to get in a details grade, but I'll still love it.
It would be interesting to know what luck the recipients of these "tips" had in then spending them, and what value they got for them.
Great story, thanks for the reminder of this important date.
You beat me to this post.What a cool coin!
The Half Disme would have been in competition with the 1/2 Real or, 1/16 of a dollar. Since the Half Disme was a 1/20 of a dollar, it was short- 1/2 bit. I imagine most merchants would have kicked you out for trying to cheat them. This is likely why Jefferson used them for tips rather for payment. Not that anyone would have refused the Secretary of State any accommodation.
Would you come back....or stay a while?
I have always wanted one of those.
But you know the old saying about wanting.......
Super cool coin Bill.
Bill,
I've admired your coin from the first time I saw it, such a "honest " coin
Can you point me in the direction to get info on the die states.
Valentine doesn't break it down.
I would definitely have to stay awhile......way too much history going on and wouldn't want to miss it
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CoinsAreFun Toned Silver Eagle Proof Album
.
Gallery Mint Museum, Ron Landis& Joe Rust, The beginnings of the Golden Dollar
.
More CoinsAreFun Pictorials NGC FOR SALE
Sally no doubt got a few.
I wonder if becasue they were "new" coinage that they were rejected or thrown away? But, the good folks that dotted the road to Monticello were not used to this new coinage from a new county and may not have recognized Jefferson.
The court jester does not play, but gently pulls the strings…
Interesting story... And the hypothetical situations that may have arisen from the dispensing of those coins are interesting to entertain. If Jefferson was recognized (and I find it hard to imagine he would not be - likely traveling with an entourage), then certainly the coins were at least kept as souvenirs, for a time, until more widely recognized. Money was scarce then. Really nice coin Bill.... a real special memento of an amazing time in our history. Cheers, RickO
it is important to note that it was not until much later that Jefferson was credited with writing the Declaration of Independence. At the time, his only fame was being at the convention and being the Secretary of State. As he traveled to Virginia, he would likely have been more recognized, having previously been the Governor.
Many of the coins are found with holes. They were kept as keepsakes, strung on a string and worn as jewelry.
A few years ago there was a Half Disme that was found to have been altered. It was a larger diameter than normal. It is possible that the coin was put between wooden blocks and hammered to make it acceptable to pass as a Half Real.
He may not have been that popular in Virginia given what happened when he was governor. From what I've read he sort of turned tail and ran when the British invaded Virginia circa 1780, and does not get high marks from historians when he held that office.
Here are a couple half reale (6 and 1/4 cents) coins.
I don't know if it was intended or not, but by the U.S. going with a decimal system of coins they made the 10 cent and 5 cent denominations smaller then their Spanish near-equivalent. The half dollar and quarter dollar were both equal to the Four Real and Two Real coin then in circulation. The 10 cent was a "short bit" (valued at 1/10 dollar where the bit - 1 Real was 1/8 of a dollar) and the 5 cent was a short half bit (valued at 1/20 dollar where the 1/2 Real was 1/16 of a dollar). This would keep these coins circulating rather then being valued higher and then being hoarded or melted.
It is also interesting that the word DIME doesn't appear on any coin until 1837.
That might have had something to with the reading ability of the population in early America. They may have know something about numbers, but no so much about words.
Specifically, the Old French corruption/contraction of the etymological root dixieme (one tenth) as favored by Francophone polymath and mathematician POTUS III.
Out of curiosity as to the value (in silver) of the coin to a slave or servant, what was the approximate cost of a night's lodging? 15c seems like a lot!
I meant the actual spelling "Dime". DISME is unique to the 1792 issue.