U.S. Coins & Banknotes Trivia

1. Which war caused the economic upheaval that was a major reason for the creation of the five cent coin?

From Quiz Classic American Coins: Nickels (Five Cents)

Answer: US Civil War

During the US Civil War (1861-1865), US coins began being pulled from circulation and hoarded by concerned citizens. While this began with coins containing precious metal (gold and silver), it eventually spread to coins made from non-precious metals. By the time that the US government was printing fractional currency (paper money with a face value under one dollar), it was decided that something should be done. New coins made of non-precious metal were minted and issued in large quantities in various denominations to alleviate the shortage and get money circulating again: two cent coins (1864), three cent coins (1865), and five cent coins (1866). A silver half dime (equal to five cents) had been minted in the United States since the late 18th century. Production of these coins had decreased during the Civil War and would eventually be brought to an end in 1873. If you have not seen a half dime before, it is a very small coin (half the size of a US dime).

From Quiz Classic American Coins: Large Cents

Answer: 1815

Interestingly, the mint has records of large cents being made in 1815 but there is no indication that any large cents with that date were made. While 1815 was the year that the War of 1812 ended, it is uncertain if that played any role. Theories suggest that there may have been a shortage of planchets (coin blanks) that year or there was little demand for large cents until late in the year. In either case, the theory goes that mint officials may have thought there was not the need or the time to make any dies dated 1815 and simply used a previous year's die. It is possible that not many large cents were needed in a particular year. By comparison with 20th century coins, large cents were minted in relatively small numbers. The peak mintage in 1851 was slightly under 10 million and several dates had mintages under one million. The cent had significant purchasing power in the late 1700s and early 1800s.

From Quiz Faces On U.S. Paper Money

Answer: Salmon Portland Chase

Salmon P. Chase was the U.S. Secretary Of the Treasury under President Lincoln during the Civil War. This was a large format bill which measured 7.4218 by 3.125 inches. In the middle 1920's, U.S. bills were changed to a small format which measured 6.14 by 2.61 inches which is still used today.

From Quiz Interesting U.S. Coins

Answer: The 1851 silver 3 cent piece

The 3 cent piece is called a Trime. There was a silver shortage at the time and small denomination circulating coinage was badly needed. Making the Trime with only 86% of a full 3 cents worth of silver kept it from being melted. Three cents was also the postage rate and one of the purposes of the coin was to buy a stamp with it. The coin continued to be made until 1873.

From Quiz U.S. Dollar Coins

Answer: Dwight D. Eisenhower

Presidents Roosevelt and Kennedy were memorialized on coins shortly after their deaths. President Eisenhower was the last one born in the 19th century, born on Oct 14, 1890.

From Quiz Where's George (WG)

Answer: 1998

Of course there was no internet in 1975 (or earlier), and 1898 is simply inserted to trip up anyone who doesn't read carefully. I suggest you read the Interesting (hopefully) Information after each of these questions. It may prove - interesting. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The intent and golden rule of WG is "EMS" - Enter the bill info into WG; Mark the bills with the WG web address; Spend the bills normally, just like you would spend unmarked cash. ENTER-MARK-SPEND.

From Quiz So You Want To Be a Coin Collector

Answer: Numismatics

Numismatics is derived from a Latin word, "numisma," meaning coin. In a broader sense, numismatics can also refer to paper money, tokens, and other items used as a medium of exchange. Phliately is the hobby of collecting stamps. Deltiology refers to collecting postcards. Fusilately is the hobby of collecting telephone cards.

From Quiz Once Upon A Dime

Answer: It comes from the old French "disme", meaning 1/10.

"Disme" is pronounced the same as "dime" - the "s" is silent. The first dime was actually spelled "disme". A few were minted in 1792, but they never circulated. Most dismes were silver (with some copper), but there were a few that were just plain copper - pattern pieces only. Dimes intended for circulation would not appear for four more years.

From Quiz American Coin Collecting for Beginners

Answer: This coin has not been used.

Coins are almost never perfect, even if they haven't been used. The grade of "proof" means that a special finish is used to make a coin more shiny for collectors.

From Quiz Coinage of the U.S.A.

Answer: Hoggies

Hoggies were struck in what is now known as Bermuda as part of the British New World series. They were issued in shillings, sixpence, threepence and twopence. The name Hoggies comes from the hog which appears on the obverse side of all the coins.

From Quiz Crazy Coin & Currency Challenge 1

Answer: zinc

They've been 97.5% zinc since 1982. Only 2.5% of it is copper, and that's mainly in the outer plating. Additionally, steel was used in cents made in 1943, and aluminum was used in experimental, non-circulating pieces dated 1974.

From Quiz ...A Penny Earned

Answer: German

The word "penny" is derived from the the German word "pfennig." The denarius was a silver coin, a bit larger than a dime, that was used in the Roman Empire for almost 500 years. This is the coin called a "penny" in the Bible. Before Britain changed to decimal coinage, the abbreviation for pennies, or pence, was "d."

From Quiz US Quarter Dollars

Answer: .8924

A Draped Bust quarter dollar is composed of 89.24% silver and 10.76% copper. US silver coins were not 90% silver until 1836 and 1837.

From Quiz US Cents

Answer: Flowing Hair cent

The Flowing Hair cent was designed by Henry Voigt and was minted in the year 1793.

From Quiz US Nickels

Answer: Shield

The Shield Nickel is an interesting type of nickel, having no portrait, but a shield on the obverse, and a large 5 surrounded by stars on the reverse. Although most US coin denominations were first officially minted between 1793 and 1796, the US nickel wasn't first minted until 1866 due to the denomination of half dimes being minted from 1794-1873.

From Quiz Wheat Cents

Answer: 1909-1958

The wheat cent was created with the Lincoln obverse to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Lincoln's birthday.

From Quiz Put in Your Two-Cents Worth

Answer: Silver 3-cent; 2-cent; Nickel 3-cent; 20-cent

The silver 3-cent was first minted in 1851, and is the smallest non-gold coin minted to date. The 2-cent was first minted in 1864 and shares the obverse design with the shield nickel that was minted starting in 1866. The nickel 3-cent was first minted in 1865 and continued being minted through 1889. The twenty cent was only minted during the period 1875-1878, making it one of the shortest-lived coins in the history of US currency.

From Quiz A Penny for Your Thoughts?

Answer: Early one-cent coins were much larger than current pennies.

The diameter was one and a half times larger (29 mm compared to 19 mm) and the large cent weighed 3 times as much as the current penny. The large cent was produced until 1857, but rising copper prices made the mint decide to switch to the small cent, and pennies have had the same diameter since (though the thickness and metal content have changed).

From Quiz American Coinage X

Answer: four

1. Shield Nickels (1866-1883). 2. Liberty Nickels (1883-1913). The 1913 Liberty Nickel is worth millions. 3. Buffalo Nickels (1913-1938). 4. Jefferson Nickels (1938-present). The mintmark location has changed several times on the Jefferson nickel.

From Quiz The U. S. One Cent Coin

Answer: Penny

The U. S. mint does not officially recognize the name penny for one cent coins but in everyday conversation the word penny is used much more often.

From Quiz The U. S. Nickel

Answer: 1/20

The value of most coins is given in relation to the standard unit of currency in a nation. In the United States, a nickel is equal to five hundredths or one-twentieth of a dollar.

From Quiz Squished Pennies

Answer: Chicago, Illinois

The Columbian Exposition celebrated the 400th anniversary of the arrival of Christopher Columbus in the New World. New York, Washington, and St. Louis were all in the running for hosting the exposition, but a group of Chicago businessmen convinced the United States Congress to choose Chicago as the site of the exposition.

From Quiz American Numismatics

Answer: The obverse

The front of a coin is the obverse, the back of a coin is called the reverse.

From Quiz From Large Cents To Half Unions

Answer: A three-cent piece

Three cent pieces were coined from 1851-1889.

From Quiz Do You Know US Coins?

Answer: Bicentennial Quarter

In 1976, the US mint struck a quarter to commemorate the 200th anniversary of our country. It was the first time that an eagle was not the main device on the reverse of the quarter.

From Quiz American Coinage

Answer: Walking Liberty Half Dollar

The Walking Liberty Half Dollar coins were minted from 1916-1947. Adolph A. Weinman's famous design was used for both coins.

From Quiz Notable Notes

Answer: Demand Note

In the early days of paper money, government officials' salaries were paid in Demand Notes, in an attempt to build public confidence in this type of currency. The reverse side of the Demand Note was colored green, and gave way to the popular nickname "greenback", which is still commonly used today.

From Quiz Confederate States Currency

Answer: Montgomery, Alabama

The first Confederate Treasury notes were issued from Montgomery, Alabama. Montgomery was the first capital of the Confederacy. Approximately 607 $1,000 and $500 were issued. As for the lower denominations 1,606 $100 and $50 notes were issued. These notes are highly sought after by collectors and all denominations on todays market command a 5 figure price.

From Quiz The U.S. Silver Eagle

Answer: 1986

The obverse is Adolph A. Wien's Walking Liberty design originally put on U.S silver half dollars from 1916 through 1947. The eagle on the reverse was designed by John Mercanti.

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Last Updated Dec 21 2024 5:50 AM

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