Colonial Coins

US Colonial coins refer to a series of coins that were minted and circulated in the American colonies before the establishment of the United States Mint. These coins were issued by various colonial governments and private individuals to meet the need for a medium of exchange in the colonies.

During the colonial period, several types of coins were in circulation, including English, Spanish, and Portuguese coins. However, due to the scarcity of these coins, the colonists began to produce their own coins as a means of trade.

The most famous colonial coin is the Massachusetts Bay Colony silver coin, known as the "Pine Tree Shilling." These coins were minted in the mid-17th century and featured a distinctive design with a pine tree on the obverse and the denomination on the reverse. The Pine Tree Shillings were widely used in New England and are highly sought after by collectors today.

Other notable colonial coins include the Virginia halfpenny, the Maryland coinage (such as the Lord Baltimore coinage), the New Jersey coppers, and the Vermont copper coins. Each of these coins had unique designs and circulated within their respective colonies.

It's important to note that the colonial coins were not standardized and varied in terms of design, weight, and fineness. The lack of a central mint and standardized coinage system meant that the colonial coins were often subject to counterfeiting and had varying degrees of acceptance.

Today, colonial coins are highly collectible and sought after by numismatists and historians. They offer a glimpse into the economic and cultural history of the American colonies and provide valuable insights into the early days of American coinage.

Colonials Are:

Massachusetts Silver Coins (1652-1662)

Pre-1776 States Coinage (1652-1774)

Pre-1776 Private and Regional Issues (1616-1766)

French Colonies (1670-1767)

Post-1776 States Coinage (1776-1788)

Post-1776 Private and Regional Issues (1778-1820)

Proposed National Issues (1776-1787)

Washington Pieces (1783-1800)

Libertas Americana Medals (1781)

Regulated Gold (1725-1825)