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While the dime may be the smallest circulating coin in the United States, its significance certainly looms large. Designed to honor the late American President, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the Roosevelt Dime was first struck in Philadelphia on January 19, 1946.  

Just a couple of weeks ago marked one of the most significant dates in modern American numismatic history, as it was the 46^th anniversary of Executive Order 11825’s implementation. Signed into law by President Gerald Ford on New Year’s Eve in 1974, E.O. 11825 rescinded restrictions on private gold ownership for American citizens.

The year 2020 has certainly been challenging, but out of this troubling time has come a wealth of numismatic opportunities. To fill you in on everything that has taken place during 2020, we have put together a retrospective featuring our hosts Rick Tomaska and Jack McNamara.

No president in the history of the United States of America has taken a greater interest in the coinage of our country than 26^th President Theodore Roosevelt. In fact, it was one simple letter written by Roosevelt 116 years ago on December 27, 1904, that sparked the American Coin Renaissance.

While America struck its first gold coin, the Gold Eagle, in 1795, Canada only began minting gold coins in 1912. The first series of Canadian gold coins is known as the George V series and only lasted for three years, until 1914, when World War I broke out. In order to finance the war effort, the Canadian government recovered the vast majority of these coins and kept them hoarded for nearly 100 years. 

Though the United States has long held its status as a sovereign nation and global superpower, the country originated as 13 colonies governed by the British Crown for nearly two centuries. The Pine Tree Shilling, first struck over 350 years ago around 1670, allows us to venture into the past and take a deeper look at our nation’s origins.  

Charles Barber held his position as the Mint’s Chief Engraver until his death in 1917. The legacy he left behind has established him as one of the most monumental figures in US Mint history, and in 1989 an organization called “The Barber Coin Collectors Society” was founded to commemorate his life and countless accomplishments. So this week, for the 180^th anniversary of his birth, join us as we celebrate a true American numismatic icon, Charles Barber.

Exactly 82 years ago, on November 15, 1938, the Jefferson Nickel was released into public circulation. Known as the primary author of the Declaration of Independence, the first Secretary of State, and the man who facilitated the Louisiana Purchase, Thomas Jefferson’s importance to American history is undeniable.  With such a prestigious list of accomplishments, it is no surprise that our Third President, Thomas Jefferson, was chosen to be featured on the Nickel in 1938. 

Throughout the history of the U.S. Mint, the discovery of gold in new regions of our country prompted the opening of new federal mints as a way to safely process the precious metal. This is the procedure that played out during the first gold rushes of the United States in the South, which led to the construction of the Charlotte, Dahlonega, and New Orleans Mints. Later, the famous California Gold Rush of 1849 spurred the creation of the San Francisco Mint. When gold was discovered in Pierce, Idaho in 1860, plans to build a new mint in the Pacific Northwest soon followed. Further discoveries of gold in Canyon Creek, Oregon and other regions in 1862 only added to the impetus for a new mint branch.

The Eisenhower Dollar, designed by Frank Gasparro, was the first Dollar Coin struck in over 35 years after the Peace Dollar’s mintage concluded in 1935. This coin was struck as a means of honoring our courageous and honorable 34th President, Dwight D. Eisenhower after his death in 1969.