Drachmas Doubloons and Dollars: The History of Money
(Exhibition Home)
Early America
Introduction
Colonial America - The Continental Currency and State Coinage - Experiments of the Confederation Period - George Washington - Coin Patterns of 1792 - Early U.S. Cents - Early U.S. Silver and Gold
George Washington

Although a number of patterns for U.S. coins were made with his portrait, George Washington disapproved of this practice as a sign of tyrannical rule. It has been suggested that, after his 1791 portrait designs were rejected, John Gregory Hancock Sr. (1775-1815) privately produced the "Roman Head" cent in which Washington is made to look like a despotic Roman Emperor.
U.S. copper "Large Eagle" cent pattern (1791) by Hancock Sr.
U.S. copper "Roman Head"cent pattern (1792) by Hancock Sr.
Bronze "Washington before Boston" medal (1786) produced in Paris for Congress to commemorate the British evacuation of Boston (1776).