Ask anyone "What is a five-cent US coin called?", and more than likely, the reply you'll get is "a Nickel". Of course, that's the correct answer, but this hasn't always been the case. Prior to the introduction of the first US nickel in 1866, the five-cent role was filled in the early years of the United States by a small silver coin called the "Half Dime". In fact, the first United States coin minted under the Constitution in appreciable quantities was the 1792 Half Disme (the "s" in "Disme" was later dropped). This was only a pattern coin, but it was minted amid great fanfare, with President and Mrs. Washington on hand to inspect the first coins off the press. In all, 1500 of the 1792 Half Dismes were minted, many of which reached general circulation. The first regular strike half dimes were dated 1794, meaning that no half dimes were minted in 1793. |
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