What is National One Cent Day?
What do Benjamin Franklin, the word mind your company, April 1st, and National One Cent Day have in common? The penny is the penny, which we recognize on National One Cent Day. The answer is no, but we do not know it.
In 1787, a private mint in the United States first issued a one-cent coin. Benjamin Franklin designed it. It read "Mind Your Company" on one side and "We Are One" on the other. This coin, which was larger than today's penny and became known as the Fugio cent, was made of 100% copper.
The United States Mint was first established in 1792, but it wasn't until 1792 that it was first established.. Collectors today recognize the first coins struck by the newly established mint as Chain cents, or Flowing Hair Chain Cents. Flowing Hair Chain Cents are the first coins struck by collectors today. A circle of 13 links of chain resembling the 13 colonies was on one side of the coin. On the other hand, there was an image of a woman with flowing hair, otherwise known as Liberty.
To make the currency more affordable and easier to handle, the one-cent coin was reduced in size in the 1850s to make it more portable and easier to handle. The mint made the Flying Eagle cent with a wreath on the reverse side in 1856.'
In 1859, this coin was quickly replaced with the Indian Head cent, which quickly became popular and remained in circulation for decades.
