Edge Lettering On U.S. Coins Is Making A Comeback
Many of the coins we come across every day have smooth edges, or reeded edges. But it is not every day we find coins which have letters and words imprinted on the edge.
Until the past couple years, coins with lettered edges were not being made for circulation in the United States.
The Presidential dollar coins and Native American dollar coins that are now being struck do contain letters on the edges.
That's right, coin edge lettering is making a comeback!
Presidential dollars struck from 2007 through 2008 contain the date, the coin's mint mark, the motto "E PLURIBUS UNUM", and "IN GOD WE TRUST", along with 13 stars.
The U.S. Mint responded to controversy over the seeming omission of "IN GOD WE TRUST" from the coin. (Most who complained did not realize the motto was on the coin's edge.) Therefore, the Mint placed "IN GOD WE TRUST" under the portrait on the coin's obverse in 2009.
The same coin edge lettering will be used for the Native American dollars which were issued beginning in January of 2009.
Coin Edge Lettering Has Been Around For Years
While coin edge lettering may seem, to some, like a new coin innovation, edge lettering on U.S. coins dates back to the 1700s. In fact, some of America's earliest coin edges have lettering on them.
Early-type half dollars -- which are those made in the U.S. from 1794 through 1836 -- have edge lettering which contains the following words "FIFTY CENTS OR HALF A DOLLAR."
There are several design variations of the early half dollar with edge lettering:
- Flowing Hair half dollar (1794-1795)
- Draped Bust half dollar with small eagle reverse (1796-1797)
- Draped Bust half dollar with heraldic eagle reverse (1801-1807)
- Capped Bust half dollar (1807-1836)
The early silver dollar is another coin that contains edge lettering. Silver dollars minted during the years 1794-1804 contain the following inscription on the coin's edge "HUNDRED CENTS ON DOLLAR OR UNIT."
There were a few coin edge design variations during 1794-1804. These designs include:
- Flowing Hair dollar (1794-1795)
- Draped Bust with small eagle reverse (1795-1798)
- Draped Bust with heraldic eagle reverse (1798-1804)
Ultra-High Relief Saint-Gaudens Coin Edges
One of America's most celebrated coins also contains edge lettering. The Augustus Saint-Gaudens double eagle $20 gold coin, which was struck from 1907 through 1933, also has edge lettering. The edge lettering contains the inscription "E PLURIBUS UNUM", with stars dividing the words.
The U.S. Mint is currently selling an ultra-high relief Saint-Gaudens gold coin. The 2009 ultra-high relief Saint-Gaudens coin is a nod to the original Saint-Gaudens double eagle.
The double eagle was minted but never released into circulation. The original ultra-high relief Saint-Gaudens coin could not be minted in large numbers due to technical reasons; flatter relief designs were produced instead.
Like the other Saint-Gaudens gold coins, the 2009 ultra-high relief coin edge contains the inscription "E PLURIBUS UNUM," with each word divided by stars.
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