We are at the end of our series breaking down denominations that have come and went in United States coinage. Our last focus will be proposed coinage of 1792, some of which are patterns, some privately issued, and perhaps all of them can be considered experimental.
1792 Silver Center Cent
The dies for this coin are assumed to be cut by Henry Voight. Liberty is featured on the obverse facing right with a wreath tied with a ribbon in the reverse. Unique to say the least, this copper cent coin features a silver plug in the center. According to the Red Book, there are just 14 known. For experimental purposes, there were also cent coins struck without the silver center. There are only around nine of those known.
1792 Birch Cent
There are four known varieties of the 1792 Birch cent, all extremely rare. Believed to be engraved by Mint employee, Robert Birch, the coins featured Miss Liberty on the obverse with BIRCH engraved on the truncation of her neck in small letters. The copper coins were struck with the intent on creating the first Large cent.
The first variety has a plain edge, and just two are known to exist. The second variety features a Lettered Edge spelling out TO BE ESTEEMED * BE USEFUL *, with only six to seven known. With even less known (only two), the Lettered Edge TO BE ESTEEMED BU USEFUL is the third and final copper variety of the 1792 Birch cent. The last variety was the White Metal struck cent coin with G*W Pt. On the bottom edge of the reverse. These coins are a true unicorn.
1792 Half Disme
There are differences in opinion as to whether the 1792 Half disme was a pattern or a regular issue. With an estimated mintage of 1,500 pieces, it seems as if it points to the latter. Struck in a private factory by John Harper just down the road from the Mint in Philadelphia, the silver half dismes were distributed privately by Thomas Jefferson as they were offered as “gratuities rather than being issued through banks into commerce,” according to the Red Book.
Another 500 pieces were struck later in the year 1792, with some as test strikes, some as souvenirs for the Mint employees, and some as presentation pieces. It is even said that it is possible that some of the coins were released for circulation later. That said, there is only an estimated 250-300 still known to exist today.
1792 Disme
The 1792 was considered a pattern issue, with a silver coin and a copper coin. Liberty is featured on the obverse facing left with the date below her. The reverse shows an eagle in the center with DISME inscribed below. There are also two different coppers: one with a plain edge and the other with a reeded edge. Only 15 are known to exist in copper and three in silver.
1792 Quarter Dollar
While they appear not to have a denomination on the coin, they are often referred to as quarter dollars. Not a lot is known about the coins, other than they were minted in copper and white metal. Just two are known to exist in copper, and four are known to exist in white metal. It is not known who designed or engraved the dies, but the portrait of Lady Liberty on the obverse is quite different than what we are used to from coinage at that time and after as her hair is kept up in a simple and plain way. The reverse shows an eagle on the globe.
Source: NGC Coin; The Official 2026 Red Book; PCGS
