The Latin slogan meaning “Out of Many, One” has been the topic of several recent questions. It is traced to a poem by Roman poet Virgil (70-19 B.C.), who used it in “Moretum” in the line, “…Deperdunt propias; color est E Pluribus Unum,” referring to ingredients ground up with a mortar and pestle. Continue reading →

Section 10 of the Mint Act of April 2, 1792, says, “… with this inscription, ‘UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,’ …” Once this tradition was established, nobody saw any need to change it. Particularly in the early days when dies were hand-made, they economized in every possible way, so perhaps this was another reason for not adding the extra three letters. Continue reading →

It’s a bit difficult to associate the term “rare” with a coin that had a mintage of more than 3 million at each of three mints. The proof mintage is more than 4 million, so any way you look at it the coin is not rare, even if it may be hard to find. Continue reading →

A confusing problem: Some sources list the 1827 quarters as regular issues, some as proofs, including the one sold in the Garrett sale. Please clear this up. Continue reading →

The U.S. Mint began withdrawal in 1945, and in 20 years retrieved 163 million, or about 14.9 percent of the steel cents in circulation. Some 900,000,000 are still out there. Apparently they were turned over to private smelters to be melted down. Continue reading →