Every US Coin Series

The hand-press era, 1792 to 1836

The United States Mint opened in Philadelphia in 1792 and delivered its first circulating copper coins in 1793, its first silver in 1794 and its first gold in 1795. Every coin was struck on a hand-operated screw press, with planchets cut, weighed and adjusted by hand. That is why early coins show adjustment marks from filing, uneven strikes and slightly different sizes. Dies were engraved and punched individually, so each die pair, called a die marriage, has its own small differences. Specialist collectors of early coins attribute their coins to these marriages.

Design changes in this era usually came because the chief engraver changed. Robert Scot, John Reich and William Kneass each left a distinct portrait of Liberty.

Steam power and standardization, 1836 to 1873

The Mint struck its first coin on a steam-powered press in 1836. The new presses, combined with the close collar, made coins perfectly round with uniform edges. The Act of 1837 set all gold and silver coins at 90% fineness. In 1853 Congress reduced the weight of silver coins below a dollar to stop them being melted after the California Gold Rush changed the value of gold against silver. In 1857 the small cent replaced the large cent and foreign coins lost their legal tender status.

The Civil War brought hoarding, paper fractional currency, the bronze cent, the two-cent piece, the copper-nickel nickel and the motto IN GOD WE TRUST. The Coinage Act of 1873 cleared away the half dime, the two-cent piece, the three-cent silver and the standard silver dollar.

The golden age of design, 1907 to 1921

President Theodore Roosevelt believed American coins were dull and asked leading sculptors to fix them. In a burst of activity the country gained the Saint-Gaudens gold coins of 1907, the Lincoln cent of 1909, the Buffalo nickel of 1913, the Mercury dime, Standing Liberty quarter and Walking Liberty half of 1916 and the Peace dollar of 1921. Many collectors consider these the finest designs the United States has issued.

Presidents, clad metal and commemorative programs

From 1932 the Mint replaced allegorical designs with portraits of historical figures: Washington on the quarter, Jefferson on the nickel, Roosevelt on the dime, Franklin and then Kennedy on the half dollar. The Coinage Act of 1965 removed silver from dimes and quarters and reduced it in the half dollar, ending ninety percent silver coinage. The small dollar coins of 1979 and 2000 tried to replace the paper dollar with limited success.

Since 1999 the Mint has relied on rotating designs to bring collectors in, starting with the 50 State Quarters and continuing through the Westward Journey nickels, the Lincoln Bicentennial cents, the national park quarters and the American Women quarters.

Ways to collect from this catalog

Each series page lists every issue, meaning each combination of date, mint and major variety, with proofs and collector versions shown separately. A date and mint set means owning every circulation issue in one series. A type set means one coin of each design across many series and is the most affordable way to cover the whole history above. Many collectors begin with a type set to find which series they enjoy most, then focus on one.

Whatever route you pick, set a grade range at the start. Mixing heavily worn and uncirculated coins in one album rarely satisfies anyone, while a set in matched condition looks and sells better as a group.

The Mint itself has made collector products for most of the modern era. Proof sets were sold to the public from 1936 to 1942 and again from 1950. Uncirculated mint sets began in 1947. Both formats preserve coins in better condition than circulation ever does.

Frequently asked questions