What was the first American small cent ?

Answer 1

The first American cent was the Chain cent struck in the first twelve days of March of 1793.

"Henry Voight was responsible for designing and engraving the dies for these historic coins, and his qualifications for such a job were minimal to say the least.

Voight was a skilled operational mechanic, and was well known as a watch maker. Six months after helping demolish a whiskey still on the site of what was to be the first Mint building, Voight was ordered by mint Director Rittenhouse to place into effect his "plan" which included designing, engraving, and striking pattern cents. One was designed by him at the urging of Thomas Jefferson, the famous silver-center cent. It was this design that served as the model for the Chain cent of 1793.

Despite his lack of experience as a die cutter, Voight did at least realize the limitations of the medium in which he had to work. With the small hand presses then in use, if the central device of Liberty was to have any appreciable relief, then the reverse design had to have a simple layout with much open space in the fields. The head of Liberty and chain device on the reverse was well suited to these needs.

The chain design was simple enough and is easily the most successful element on the coin. Its fifteen interlocking links form an unbroken chain, with the words ONE CENT and the fraction 1/100 inside. The chain device was an obvious allusion to the interconnectedness of the states in the Union. This same device had previously been used on Continental Currency to signify the common, shared cause of the 13 rebellious colonies."

Answer 2

Butterfly is probably right - most likely right. But there's another element here to consider. That is, we may never truly know for sure. Many of the early American colonies had developed their own currencies, if only for a period of months before the system was standardized. There may have been limited releases of coins produced that are lost to history now.

Answer 3

I htink pennys are over 100 years?! but the two cent piece was before that! buy maybe 20 years or so...