The Creation of the First Copper Penny Appearing in the
Columbian Centinel of June 20, 1792. Click on the image to see
an enlargement On Page 1: *An Act to Provide For a Copper
Coinage* "That the director of the mint...be authorized to
contract for and purchase a quantity of copper, not exceeding
one hundred and fifty tons...to be coined at the mint into cents
and half-cents...and be paid into the treasury of the United
States, thence to issue into circulation." "The Act also
stipulates that "no copper coins or pieces whatsoever except the
said cents and half-cents, shall pass current as money, or shall
be paid, or offered to be paid or received in payment for any
debt, demand, claims, matter or thing whatsoever." The Act warns
that all other copper coins used in payment will be forfeited,
and those involved fined ten dollars. The Act is signed in
script type by G. Washington on May 8, 1792. This legislation
resulted in the birth of the copper penny, from which descends
our present one cent piece — in all its