The first penny made was a silver coin struck in England under King Offa around 785. The first American cent followed just over 1,000 years later in 1787, and the first federally issued U.S. penny, the Flowing Hair cent, was struck at the Philadelphia Mint in 1793. Each event shaped the penny’s meaning, from its name and purpose to national identity.
Offa Silver Penny, 785
Historical Context
In the late eighth century, the kingdom of Mercia led England economically. Trade in essentials like wool, salt, and grain required a dependable low-denomination coin. King Offa answered that need with a silver penny, modeled on the Carolingian French denier. Similar coins circulated across Europe under names like the pfennig in German-speaking lands. Offa’s penny marks the first known use of the term in England.
Weight, Dimensions, and Composition
| Attribute | Detail |
| Metal | Silver, usually above 90% purity |
| Weight | About 1.46 grams |
| Diameter | about 19 mm |
| Fabrication | Hand-hammered on cold blanks |
| Typical Design | Cross and moneyer’s name on both faces |
Significance
The penny became England’s sole accounting unit for centuries. Even before the U.S. Mint was founded, colonists used the term “penny” in commerce, showing how deeply the word had taken root in transatlantic life.
The First American Penny: Fugio Cent, 1787
Historical Context
British laws forbade colonial mints, leaving Americans to rely on foreign coins like Spanish Colonial coins and barter. After the Revolution, inflation and coin shortages disrupted daily trade. Congress responded by experimenting with a copper cent.
Congressional Action
On April 21, 1787, the Congress of the Confederation contracted James Jarvis of New Haven to produce 300 tons of copper cents within a year. Using presses in Abel Buell’s mill, Jarvis began striking Fugio Cents by year’s end.
Design of the Fugio Cent
Obverse Design
Featured a sundial under the sun with Fugio (“I flee”) and Mind Your Business, a Benjamin Franklin motto linking time and industriousness.
Reverse Design
Thirteen interlocking rings labeled with the states encircle the phrase We Are One, underscoring national unity.
Weight, Dimensions, and Composition
| Attribute | Detail |
| Metal | Copper |
| Diameter | About 30 mm |
| Mass | 10-13 grams |
| Edge | Plain, reeded, or lettered (varied by press) |
Significance
The Fugio cent proved that a copper coin could function across state lines. Though not federally struck, it was the first cent authorized by Congress. Today, it leads all U.S. coin catalogues, and mint state examples command values above $20,000.
The First U.S. Mint Penny: Flowing Hair Cent, 1793
The Coinage Act of 1792
The newly ratified Constitution gave Congress the power to mint coinage. The Coinage Act of April 2, 1792, established a mint in Philadelphia, defined the decimal dollar system, and set the cent’s mass at 11 pennyweights of pure copper (approximately 13.5 g). Thomas Jefferson oversaw preparations until a director was appointed.
First Production Week
On February 24, 1793, Mint workers struck the first official cents using a horse-powered capstan to drive screw presses. Over 36,000 coins were produced in the first week.
Design of the Flowing Hair Cent
Obverse Design
Liberty with flowing hair, designed by Chief Coiner Henry Voigt to symbolize a young nation.
Reverse Design
A chain of fifteen interlocked links, one per state, around “One Cent” and the fraction 1/100. The chain was quickly replaced after public criticism, but not before this “chain cent” earned historical distinction.
Weight, Dimensions, and Composition
| Attribute | Detail |
| Metal | Copper |
| Diameter | About 27 mm |
| Mass | 13.48 grams |
| Edge | Bars and vine leaves (segmented collar) |
Significance
The Flowing Hair Cent was the first penny made entirely under federal authority with weight and design fixed by statute. Die crack studies of surviving pieces reveal early workshop practice. Uncirculated chain cents now command six figure prices, reinforcing their foundational status.
Continuous Development
| Milestone | Contribution |
| Offa silver penny, 785 | Established the name penny and launched as a national trade instrument. |
| Fugio cent, 1787 | First American cent approved by Congress and accepted in commerce |
| Flowing Hair cent, 1793 | First penny struck by a federal mint with statutory authority |
The penny’s story is not a set of isolated dates but a single thread. Every zinc cent that slides across a counter today still carries those combined origins in its modest copper-colored shell.
