United States of America (USA or U.S.A.)

The United States of America (USA or U.S.A.), commonly referred to as the United States (US or U.S.), America, and sometimes the States, is a federal republic consisting of 50 states and a federal district. The 48 contiguous states and Washington, D.C., are in central North America between Canada and Mexico. The state of Alaska is the northwestern part of North America and the state of Hawaii is an archipelago in the mid-Pacific. The country also has five populated and nine unpopulated territories in the Pacific and the Caribbean. At 3.71 million square miles (9.62 million km2) and with around 318 million people, the United States is the world's third or fourth-largest country by total area and third-largest by population. It is one of the world's most ethnically diverse and multicultural nations, the product of large-scale immigration from many countries. The geography and climate of the United States is also extremely diverse, and it is home to a wide variety of wildlife.

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The US Mint
Source: numismaticdb.blogspot.com

On April 2, 1792, the United States Mint opened its doors. With David Rittenhouse as the first director of the United States Mint.

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Coins of the United States Of America (US)

Official United States coins have been produced every year from:
1792 to the present.

Half-cent 1792–1857
Cent (Penny) 1793–present
2-cent 1864–1873
3-cent 1851–1889
Half Dime 1792–1873
Five-cent Nickel 1866–present
Dime 1792–present
20-cent 1875–1878
Quarter 1796–present
Half dollar 1794–present
Dollar coin 1794–present
Quarter Eagle ($2.50 gold coin) 1792–1929
Three-dollar piece 1854–1889 (gold coin)
Four-dollar piece 1879–1880 (gold coin)
Half Eagle 1795–1929 ($5 gold coin)
Eagle 1795–1933 ($10 gold coin)
Double Eagle 1850–1933 ($20 gold coin)

Mint marks

Mint mark Mint Metal Minted Year Established Current Status
D Denver All metals 1906 Still in operation
P Philadelphia - see note 1 1792 Still in operation
S San Francisco All metals 1854 Still in operation (proof only)
O New Orleans Gold and Silver 1838 Closed in see note 2
CC Carson City Gold and Silver 1870 Closed in 1893, see note 3
D Dahlonega see note 4 Gold only 1838 Closed in 1861
C Charlotte Gold only 1838 Closed in 1861
W West Point see note 5 Gold, Silver and Platinum1973 Still in operation

Note 1: From 1942 to 1945 the letter "P" was used for the Philadelphia mint mark on Jefferson nickels (using the silver content), from 1980 on the letter "P" was used for the Philadelphia mint mark on a permanent basis (except Lincoln pennies).

Note 2: During the Civil War, this mint operated under the control of the State of Louisiana (February, 1861) and the Confederate States of America (March, 1861) until it ran out of bullion later in that year; some Half Dollars have been identified as being the issue of the State of Louisiana and the Confederacy.

Note 3: Press Number 1 is still in use by the Nevada State Museum; it produces tokens for the Reno Coin Club.

Note 4: Although the mint mark "D" is used for two separate mints, it is easy to distinguish between the two; any antebellum coinage (up to 1861) is Dahlonega, and any 20th century or later coinage is Denver.

Note 5: Between 1973 and 1986 there was no mint mark; these coins are indistinguishable from coins produced at the Philadelphia Mint (note 1 notwithstanding): after 1988 the letter "W" was used for coinage (except for the 2009 Ultra High Relief Double Eagle).

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