Isn't it beautiful?

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The finest known surviving example of the first coins made for circulation by the young United States Mint in 1792 will return to Philadelphia for a homecoming display, August 14-18, at the 2018 World’s Fair of Money. The small silver coin with huge significance was formerly owned by the first Mint Director, David Rittenhouse.


It was worth just 5¢ when it was struck with a hand-operated coining press 226 years ago in a basement across the street from where the first mint building was under construction. It now is insured for $2.5 million by its owner, Brian Hendelson, President of Classic Coin Company of Bridgewater, New Jersey.


It is known as a Half Disme, an early spelling of the word, dime. Only 1,500 were produced in July 1792 using silver supplied by then Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson. The rainbow-toned example in the upcoming exhibition is graded Mint State 68 (on a 1 to 70 scale) by Professional Coin Grading Service and is the finest known of only several hundred surviving examples of the 1792 Half Dimes.