Money and Finance
United States Currency
The Dollar
The standard currency of the United States is the dollar. The symbol representing the dollar is "$", which is called the dollar sign.
All money in the United States is based off of the dollar. The dollar is divided up into 100 smaller units called cents. Cents are represented by the symbol "ยข."
The U.S. dollar is also the official currency for several other countries and is used as currency in many international markets.
United States Coins
Penny
Metals: 97.5% zinc, 2.5% copper
Portrait: Abraham Lincoln
The official name for the penny is the "cent." The first coin produced by the United States mint was a 1 cent coin made in 1793 called the chain cent. The first pennies featuring Abraham Lincoln were made in 1909.
Nickel
Metals: 75% copper, 25% nickel
Portrait: Thomas Jefferson
The first nickel was made in 1866 and was called the Shield nickel. The Buffalo nickel was introduced in 1913 and the nickel featuring Thomas Jefferson was first made in 1938. In 2013, the cost of making a nickel was more than 9 cents.
Dime
Metals: 91.67% copper, 8.33% nickel
Portrait: Franklin D. Roosevelt
The dime is the smallest of all the U.S. coins in circulation both in thickness and diameter. The first dime was made in 1796. The dime featuring President Roosevelt was introduced in 1946. Up until 1965, dimes were made from 90% silver.
Quarter
Metals: 91.67% copper, 8.33% nickel
Portrait: George Washington
The first quarter, called the Draped Bust, was introduced in 1796. The quarter featuring President George Washington was introduced in 1932. Between 1999 and 2008, fifty state quarters were introduced with an obverse (back) side each featuring a different state.
Half Dollar
Metals: 91.67% copper, 8.33% nickel
Portrait: John F. Kennedy
The first half dollar was minted in 1794 and was called the Flowing Hair. The half dollar featuring President John F. Kennedy was introduced in 1964. It is sometimes called the fifty-cent piece. Half dollars are seldom used in circulation today.
Dollar
Metals: 77% copper, 12% zinc, 7% manganese, 4% nickel
Portrait: Susan B. Anthony (91.67% copper, 8.33% nickel), Sacagawea, Deceased Presidents
The first dollar coins were silver dollars minted in 1794. Throughout the years there have been many different dollar coins minted including the Eisenhower dollar (1971 to 1978), the Susan B. Anthony dollar (1979 to 1981, 1999), the American Silver Eagle (1986 - present), and the Sacagawea dollar (2000 to present). The more recent coins are minted for coin collectors.
U.S. Paper Money
1 Dollar
Portrait: George Washington
2 Dollars
Portrait: Thomas Jefferson
5 Dollars
Portrait: Abraham Lincoln
10 Dollars
Alexander Hamilton
20 Dollars
Portrait: Andrew Jackson
50 Dollars
Portrait: Ulysses S. Grant
100 Dollars
Portrait: Benjamin Franklin
Fun Facts About United States Currency
- It is estimated that the U.S. government has made around $3 billion from the 50 state quarters due to coin collectors taking them out of circulation.
- Many people used to refer to the quarter, or 25 cents, as "two bits."
- The 1804 silver dollar is one of the most valuable coins in the world because of its rarity. Silver dollars stamped with 1804 were actually made in 1834. One of them sold for over $4 million in 1999.
- The largest U.S. paper money ever printed was the $100,000 bill. It featured President Woodrow Wilson.
- Nicknames for U.S. bills include greenbacks (for any bills), sawbuck (10 dollar bill), bucks, and Benjamins (100 dollar bills).
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Note: This information is not to be used for individual legal, tax, or investment advice. You should always contact a professional financial or tax advisor before making financial decisions.
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