FREE! Click here to Join FunTrivia. Thousands of games, quizzes, and lots more!

Quiz about Classic US Coins Odd Denominations

Classic U.S. Coins: Odd Denominations Quiz

This quiz has ten questions looking at short lived US coin denominations. See how you do.

A multiple-choice quiz by bernie73. Estimated time: 3 mins.

Author
bernie73

Time
3 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
420,856

Updated
Sep 18 25

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
64

Last 3 plays: mungojerry (2/10), driver88 (4/10), piet (10/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Which period of economic struggle led to the development of the two-cent piece? Hint

Great Depression

Panic of 1893

American Revolution

US Civil War

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. What was the two-cent piece the first circulation coin to include? Hint

First coin to have a mint mark

First coin to include "In God We Trust"

First coin to have a detachable center

First coin to feature a dollar symbol

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. The two-cent series had a relatively short period in circulation (1864-1872). Which year had the greatest montage? Hint

1864

1872

1865

1870

NEXT>

Question 4 of 10

4. During its first three years, the "trine" or three-cent coin was minted in a non-standard fineness of silver. What fineness was used? Hint

.667

.925

.750

.800

NEXT>

Question 5 of 10

5. Looking at the copper-nickel three-cent coin, how was the three cents denomination indicated? Hint

Use of Arabic numeral three

It was not

Use of text "three cents"

Use of Roman numeral three

NEXT>

Question 6 of 10

6. What differentiates the 1794 Flowing Hair half dime from the Flowing Hair large cent? Hint

Lack of word "Liberty"

Date written in Roman numerals

First use of "In God We Trust"

Lack of a liberty cap

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. How does the draped bust design change on either side of the 1800 coin? Hint

The heraldic eagle was replaced by a small eagle

two eagles were replaced by one eagle

One eagle was replaced by two eagles

The small eagle was replaced by a heraldic eagle

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. Who designed the Capped Bust Half dime? Hint

John Reich

Robert Scot

James Longacre

William Kneass

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. What first occurred with "Seated Liberty" half dimes? Hint

First clad half dismes

First torus-shaped half dimes

First square half dimes

First mintmarks on half dimes

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. At which mint was the largest number of twenty cent coins minted? Hint

San Francisco

Carson City

Philadelphia

New Orleans

(Optional) Create a Free FunTrivia ID to save the points you are about to earn:

Select a User ID:

Choose a Password:

Your Email:

Most Recent Scores

Oct 30 2025 : mungojerry: 2/10
Oct 20 2025 : driver88: 4/10
Oct 17 2025 : piet: 10/10
Oct 07 2025 : GoodVibe: 3/10
Oct 05 2025 : Edzell_Blue: 5/10
Oct 05 2025 : RJOhio: 2/10
Oct 04 2025 : Guest 143: 2/10
Oct 03 2025 : stevroll: 3/10
Oct 02 2025 : DeepHistory: 10/10

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Which period of economic struggle led to the development of the two-cent piece?

Answer: US Civil War

The two-cent piece was made during the US Civil War. Economic pressure caused a withdrawal of first gold coinage, then silver coinage, then finally minor coins. The two-cent coins measured 23 millimeters in diameter and weighed about 6.2 grams. Its composition was primarily copper with a small amount of tin and zinc (Similar to the composition of small cents beginning in 1864).

2. What was the two-cent piece the first circulation coin to include?

Answer: First coin to include "In God We Trust"

The phrase "In God we trust" reflected the religious feeling of the 1860s. The phrase came from a later stanza of "The Star-Spangled Banner". The phrase would gradually appear on other coins in upcoming decades before becoming require in the 1950s.

All two-cent coins were minted in Philadelphia and as such lacked mint marks. Mint marks actually began appearing in the 1830s along with branch mints. The composition of the two-cent coin was solid throughout.

3. The two-cent series had a relatively short period in circulation (1864-1872). Which year had the greatest montage?

Answer: 1864

The general history of two-cent coins was gradually decreasing montages for a total of about 46,000,000. Nearly 20,000,000 coins were issued in 1864. The coins were initially popular before other coins gradually re-entered circulation after the Civil War. A final year of mint age in 1873 saw only a proof issue.

4. During its first three years, the "trine" or three-cent coin was minted in a non-standard fineness of silver. What fineness was used?

Answer: .750

The trime was issued with .750 fines of silver for three years before later issues were produced in the standard .900 fineness. Each .750 coin contained 0.193 Troy ounces of silver. Later trimes contained 0.217 ounces. Compared to larger coins, trimes had less intrinsic value. In the first few years, trimes saw wide circulation in the United States.

5. Looking at the copper-nickel three-cent coin, how was the three cents denomination indicated?

Answer: Use of Roman numeral three

The copper-nickel three-cent coin was issued from 1865-1889. All of the coins were minted in Philadelphia without mintmark. The reverse of the coin was simply a Roman numeral three surrounded by a wreath. There was no additional text on the reverse.

6. What differentiates the 1794 Flowing Hair half dime from the Flowing Hair large cent?

Answer: Lack of a liberty cap

The half dime was designed by Robert Scot. It was missing both the liberty cap and the pole. The design was made for two years (1794-1795) and less than 100,000 coins were made for the whole series. In 1792, an earlier spelling ("half disme") was used.

7. How does the draped bust design change on either side of the 1800 coin?

Answer: The small eagle was replaced by a heraldic eagle

The small eagle reverse was used in 1796 and 1797. The eagle was essentially standing. It was replaced by a heraldic eagle from 1800 to 1805. The eagle had its wings spread wide open. Essentially the viewer was looking at the eagle from its underside. By law, the eagle was required on most US coins.

8. Who designed the Capped Bust Half dime?

Answer: William Kneass

William Kneass was Chief Engraver of the Mint from 1824-1840. The Capped Bust design was used on half dimes from 1829-1837. The number of this design was minted was somewhat higher with a high of 2,760,000 in 1835.

9. What first occurred with "Seated Liberty" half dimes?

Answer: First mintmarks on half dimes

Seated Liberty Half dimes were minted from 1837-1873. In addition to minting in Philadelphia (the main mint), coins were also minted in New Orleans and San Francisco. The design featured an obverse with liberty seated on a rock with a shield by her side.

10. At which mint was the largest number of twenty cent coins minted?

Answer: San Francisco

Twenty-cent coins were only minted for circulation for two years (1875-1876). The largest minting of the series was the 1875 issue with 1,155,000. By comparison Philadelphia and Carson City together produced well under half-a-million coins. San Francisco was established as a branch mint in 1854.

Source: Author bernie73

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Bruyere before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.