The Coin Quiz: How Well Do You Know US Coins?

The smallest monetary denomination coin ever issued in the U.S. Mint was the half cent. It was minted from 1793 through 1857.

1. The Two Cent Piece was the first coin to carry the Motto "In God We Trust." This is actually a great clue to the grade of the coin, as the "WE" wears very quickly. More Information on Two Cent Pieces Here.

2. No...it's not "Found on the Ground." The gentleman who designed it was the tenth Chief Engraver of the United States Mint, holding this position from February 23, 1965 to January 16, 1981. His name was Frank Gasparro.

3. James Barton Longacre designed the Indian Head Cent. Legend has it that the model for the obverse of the coin was Longacre's daughter, Sarah. But Longacre said it was Liberty inspired by a Greek statue.

4. A "Four Diamond" Indian Head Cent is a High Quality Coin. See The Explanation With an Image Here

5. The designer of the Roosevelt Dime was designed by John Sinnock, the chief engraver of the US Mint. The initials JS were placed on the dime. The rumor that the JS stood for Joseph Stalin, and that there was a spy in the Treasury Department. The coin was redesigned with "R." the designer's middle initial, being added to the initials. Stalin's middle initial was "V." The rumor ended.

6. The animal on the Buffalo Nickel is not a Buffalo. It is an American Bison. Explanation and Pictures.

7. Abraham Lincoln's appearance on the Lincoln Cent was the first appearance of a "real person" on U.S. coinage.

8. The "W" as a mintmark on U.S. coinage stands for West Point.

9. Benjamin Franklin, who appeared on the obverse of the Franklin Half Dollar, was never elected President of the United States.

10. The 11-sided figure on the Susan B Anthony Dollar is called a Hendecagon. If it were a solid figure it would have been a Hendecahedron.

Answer to the Bonus Question...The Susan B Anthony Dollar was sometimes called the "Carter Quarter."