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 cent, which we recognize on National One Cent Day. The answer is simple: the penny is the penny.
In 1787, a private mint in the United States first issued a one-cent coin. Benjamin Franklin designed it. "Mind Your Company" reads on one side, while on the other "We Are One" says. This coin was made of 100% copper, was larger than today's penny, and became known as the Fugio cent.
The United States Mint was first established in 1792, but it wasn't until 1792 that it was first established. Collectors today recognize that the first coins struck by the newly established mint were called Chain cents, or Flowing Hair Chain Cents. A circle of 13 links of chain representing the 13 colonies was on one side of the coin. On the reverse, there was an image of a woman with flowing hair, otherwise known as Liberty.
In the 1850s, the one-cent coin was reduced in size to make the currency more affordable and easier to handle. The mint made the Flying Eagle cent with a wreath on the reverse side in 1856.
This coin was soon replaced with the Indian Head cent in 1859, which quickly became popular and remained in circulation for decades.
