When the United States Mint was created in 1792, one of the first coins it made was the one-cent coin. The image on the first cent was of a woman with flowing hair, who stood for liberty.

When the United States Mint was created in 1792, one of the first coins it made was the one-cent coin. The image on the first cent was of a woman with flowing hair, who stood for liberty.

The Coinage Act of 1792 set the stage for the original penny: large, pure copper pieces. As costs rose, the penny shrank, and its composition shifted. In the build-up to the Civil War, it went to ...

According to the U.S. Mint, Congress is the body that approves every coin it produces. The Coinage Act of April 2, 1792 established the Mint and the regulation of coins in the United States. There was ...