We use U.S. coins every day. But how often do we take a minute to examine the coins closely?
Can you name who’s on the dime? Or what’s on the backside of the nickel?
Don’t worry if you can’t, many of us are on the same boat. By the end of this short article, you’ll know who’s on every single U.S. coin and when they were minted.
Each coin has either a president, national sites, or u.s. territories on them.
Contents
Presidents on US Coins
Here are the presidents and faces on all the common U.S coins:
Name of Coin | Denomination (value) | Face on U.S. Coins | Picture of Coin | Mint Dates |
---|---|---|---|---|
Half Cent | $0.005 | Draped Bust | 1792 – 1857 | |
Penny | $0.01 | President Abraham Lincoln | 1909 – present | |
Nickel | $0.05 | President Thomas Jefferson | 1866 – present | |
Dime | $0.10 | President Franklin D. Roosevelt | 1796 – present | |
Quarter | $0.25 | President George Washington | 1796, 1804–1807, 1815–1828, 1831–1932, 1934-present | |
Half Dollar | $0.50 | President John F. Kennedy | 1794 – present | |
Eisenhower Dollar | $1.00 | President Dwight David Eisenhower | 1971 – 1978 | |
American Silver Eagle | $1.00 | Lady Liberty | 1986 – present | |
Susan B. Anthony Dollar | $1.00 | Susan B. Anthony | 1979-1981, 1999 | |
Sacagawea Dollar | $1.00 | Sacagawea | 2000 – present | |
Presidential Dollar Coins | $1.00 | The first 40 presidents starting from George Washington and ending with Ronal d Reagan | 2007 – 2016 |
Image source: Wikipedia
Who Decides the Faces On Every U.S. Bill?
How Do Presidents Get On Money?
Who is on The half-cent?
The half-cent is the only US coin without someone recognizable on it. Depending on the year it was minted, the US half-cent depicts the Liberty Cap, Draped Bust, or the Classic Head.
These are all busts and don’t depict anyone in particular.
The half-cent is the lowest denomination of US currency and was first minted in 1793. Production of the half-cent ended in 1857.
Who is on The Penny?
President Abraham Lincoln has been on the US penny since 1909.
The backside of the penny shows the Lincoln Memorial. However, in 2010, a new backside design was implemented.
This new design depicts the Union Shield. You can see what that looks like below:
Fun fact: In 2010, the metal that is used to create pennies rose in price: $0.02 for each penny created.
This led to the penny debate being the front focus of the news cycle for a time. However, there are no plans to eliminate the penny as of now.
Who is on The Nickel?
President Thomas Jefferson is on the nickel. The reverse side of the nickel depicts Jefferson’s home, Monticello.
While the nickel has been in production since 1866, the Thomas Jefferson nickel we all know so well didn’t get a mink mark until 1938. In fact, it was the 4th iteration of the design on the nickel.
From 1866 to 1883, the nickel was adorned by a shield and known as the Shield nickel. The design on the nickel changed again in 1883 to depict the Liberty Head.
This was done in an attempt to increase the usage and popularity of nickel. This design lasted until 1913, when President Theodore Roosevelt hired a sculptor to make US coins more artistic and better-looking.
The sculptor, Augustus Saint-Gaudens, the famous Buffalo nickel. 25 years later, the US Mint held a competition to find a new nickel design.
Felix Schlag won the competition with Thomas Jefferson’s face on the front side and his Monticello home on the backside.
Buffalo Nickel | Liberty Head Nickel | Shield Nickel |
---|---|---|
Who is on The Dime?
President Franklin D. Roosevelt is on the dime.
Just like the nickel, the dime has gone through many design changes since it was originally minted in 1796. Here are the six different designs:
- Draped Bust (1796-1807)
- Capped Bust (1809 – 1837)
- Seated Liberty (1837 – 1891)
- Barber (1892 – 1916)
- Mercury (1916 – 1945)
- Roosevelt (1946 – now)
Who is on The Quarter?
President George Washington is on the quarter.
The reverse side of the quarter showed an eagle until the 1999 50 State Quarters Program. This program, which lasted from 1999 to 2008, featured special designs for each U.S. state on the reverse side of the quarter.
Who is on the 50-cent coin (a half dollar)?
The 50-cent coin, also known as the half dollar, features the face of President John F. Kennedy.
The reverse side of the half dollar depicts the Seal of the President of the United States.
The half-dollar has been in production since 1794 and has gone through many design changes since then:
- Flowing Hair (1794–1795)
- Draped Bust (1796–1807)
- Capped Bust (1807–1839)
- Seated Liberty (1839–1891)
- Barber (1892–1915)
- Walking Liberty (1916–1947)
- Franklin (1948–1963)
- Kennedy (1964)
- Kennedy (1992–present)
Who is on The Dollar Coin?
Sacagawea (and her child) are on the most common dollar coin.
However, there are plenty of designs of the dollar coin which are still in circulation.
The Eisenhower dollar depicts the likeness of President Dwight David Eisenhower. It was minted from 1971 to 1978
The Susan B Anthony dollar depicts, you guessed it, Susan B. Anthony. This version of the dollar coin was minted from 1979 to 1981 and then again in 1999.
The Sacagawea dollar was first minted in 2000 and is still being produced today.
Wondering how much a dollar coin weighs? Or how about a penny?
Want to find out how to change coins hassle-free?
Who Was the Oldest President?
Historical Data of US Coinage
The minute you catch up with a glimpse of coins, have you ever thought about this fact how they had evolved and designed? Here we are going to tell you!
Likewise, you have heard and read about the older civilizations, in the same way, this US coinage came and evolved during the late time of the 1700s.
During that time, people prefer to trade with the use of foreign coins. This was marked and considered a unique piece of currency.
Below you can see the respective details that how these coins have evolved and made their place in the United States:
Beginning of The era of Coins in the U.S.A
It was in the year 1792 that American Congress manages to pass the country’s very first of its kind of coinage act.
From this, it was thereby concluded that the United States Mint was officially given this duty and responsibility.
In this zone, an extensive amount of research was put forward and officially contributed right by Thomas Jefferson as well as Benjamin.
They gave their ideas and suggestions regarding the early versions and formats of the coins.
All About the Dollar Coin History
Whenever we say this word and the term “dollar”, then it comes out to be synonymous with American currency.
The overall idea and conception of US coinage came into being just to discourage and demotivate people from trading in some other kind of foreign currencies.
When these U.S. coins were launched and introduced, then at that time, there were not officially recognized and marked as in the form of legal tender.
But then they made their permanent mark and position.
All About Sacagawea Dollar Coin
Talking about this Sacagawea dollar coin, it was launched right by the U.S. Mint. A native woman was commemorated on this coin with this same and exact name.
Most noteworthy is that women joined Lewis and also Clark all on their expedition. They explored the unknown territory located and present in the Western States.
That entire journey was tough, difficult, and dangerous. Sacagawea got an immense and wide amount of popularity and she was later on acknowledged and honoured with statues.
This one is a gold-coloured coin released.
Details About The Evolution of Coins
This happened during the time of 1950s when a new act was introduced and heard by people.
That act was related and linked to the modification and bringing of changes in the metallic composition of the coins.
It was allowed that a few of the coins like that dimes and quarters, can now be produced and made without using any kind of silver.
Furthermore, it was granted that coins can be made of manganese, and copper or they can be made of nickel.
So far in the zones of the United States, this coin-collecting habit is a popular habit pursued by people.
They love collecting and also cataloging historic and ancient American coins. If you have kept such a collection of coins, then share that with us.
Interested in U.S. currency besides U.S. coins?
Check out these articles:
- Everything You’d Ever Want to Know About the $10,000 Dollar Bill
- Million Dollar Bill: Do They Really Exist? Can You Spot a Fake?
- $5,000 Dollar Bill: Everything You Need To Know
- Eisenhower Dollar Coin
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