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Quote: The most beautiful of the Augustus Saint Gaudens designed Double Eagles were the ultra rare piedfort (double thick) patterns of which only two were struck. The U.S. Mint, however, reprised it with a faithful re issue as the 'Ultra High Relief' one ounce gold coin of 2009: https://www.pcgs.com/coinfacts/category/ultra-high-relief-double-eagles-2009/941 I ordered one on the day of issue. it's magnificent. I've always been equally fond of St. Gaudens' design for the ten dollar Eagle. I have one example and it is among my favorite coins: The reverse design was based on the Theodore Roosevelt inaugural medal, also by ASG: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/19770 Other all time favorites of mine are the twin designs of $2.50 and $5.00 (Quarter Eagle and Half Eagle) by Bela Lyon Pratt: https://monacorarecoins.com/indian-head-gold/half-eagles/ Pennies were British: Penny - not Cent Cent - not Penny Though it has been common among the populace of the U. S. to refer to our one cent coin as a 'Penny' for generations, it never has been one. Pennies were distinctly British, at 240 to a Pound Sterling, while the young United States adopted a quasi - decimal coinage system with one hunderd 'Cents' to a U.S.Dollar (or Unit). As common as it is to call the cent a 'penny', it is no more accurate than it is to call this fellow a 'buffalo': American Bison - not 'buffalo' The reason no U. S. cent has ever had the word 'penny' on it is simply because cents are not pennies. The original Cent and Half Cent coins of the United States were 100% copper but that changed after the Coinage Act of 1857 which made Spanish coin no longer legal tender, thus eliminating the no longer needed Half Cent while also reducing size and changing composition of the Cent. From 1857 - 1863 cents were of the same diameter as the present issue but on a thicker planchet of 88% copper, 12% nickel. 1856 Pattern for 1857 - 58 Cent In mid year 1864 the cent was changed again to the present size and thickness as today's issue on a planchet of 'French Bronze' (95% copper, remainder tin and zinc) that would be used through mid year 1982 with the exception of 1943 when they were zinc plated steel. Since mid 1982, the U.S. Cent had been minted on planchets of zinc with a thin copper plating. Even so, they cost more to produce and distribute than they are worth. |