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History

Foreign Coins Minted In The US

February 1, 2025

I remember when my mom finds a coin in change that looks like the same size as a Jefferson Nickels . Therefore, she gives it to me asking if this is a special nickel. I look at it and it turns out to be a 1920 5 Centavos coin from Cuba. This is the first Cuban coin that I have. What I find out with this coin is that it is one of many foreign coins minted in the US.

At a previous coin club meeting, a member gives a talk on Foreign Coins that are made in the United States. Now, I never hear of this before then. At the break, I go and look at his display, and surprise, there is the same 5 Centavos coin from Cuba as mine. Now, I’ve been a coin collector for a long time, and the US mints foreign coins for over 100 years. Where have I been?

Some Information That The Speaker Gives Us

  • The US surprisingly mints coins for over 40 different nations between 1875 and 1984.
  • As well as the other US mints, there is a branch of the US mint in Manila, Philippines from 1920 to 1941.
  • A number of foreign coins are from planchets similar to US coins. That’s partially why my mom thinks the 5 centavos coin looks like a nickel.
  • Some of the coins have US mint marks (‘D’ for Denver and ‘S’ for San Francisco). The only coin from New Orleans is a Mexican 20 Centavos Coin, which has the mint mark of Mexico City instead of ‘O’ for New Orleans.
  • Consequently, some coins come from private mints including Providence, RI and Waterbury, CT.
  • A few of the foreign coins are different shapes than US coins including square and hexagon. Some even had holes.

Foreign Countries/Territories Coins the US Mints

This is a partial list. If you find something missing or incorrect, please let me know.

The dates after the coins are what is seen on the coin. It is not necessarily the date it is minted, although in most cases, it is.

Argentina

  • 5 Centavos (1919-1920)
  • 10 Centavos (1919-1920)
  • 20 Centavos (1919)

Australia

  • Threepence (1942-1944)
  • Sixpence (1942-1944)
  • Shilling (1942-1944)
  • Florin  (1942-1944)

Belgian Congo

  • 2 Francs (1943)

Belgium

  • 2 Francs (1944)

Bolivia – Some were minted in 1943 but dated 1942

  • 10 Centavos (1942)
  • 20 Centavos (1942)
  • 50 Centavos (1942)

Brazil

  • 10 Centavos (1968-1970)
  • 20 Centavos (1968-1970)

Canada – Some were minted in 1969 but dated 1968

  • 10 Cents (1968) – Some are also minted in Ottawa

China

  • Half Dollar (1936) – Minted in 1938
  • Dollar (1936) – Minted in 1938
  • Dollar (1934) – Minted in 1949

Columbia

  • 1 Centavo (1920-1921,1933,1935,1938)
  • 2 Centavos (1920-1921,1933,1935,1938)
  • 5 Centavos (1902,1933,1935,1938,1946-1947)
  • 20 Centavos (1902)
  • 50 Centavos (1916-1917,1921-1922,1934)

Costa Rica

  • 1 Colon (1936,1954,1961,1968,1970)
  • 2 Colones (1900,1915,1921-1922,1926,1928,1954,1961,1970)
  • 5 Colones (1900,1914)
  • 10 Colones (1897,1900)
  • 20 Colones (1897,1900)
  • 2 Centimos (1903)
  • 5 Centimos (1905,1910,1912,1914,1929,1951,1953,1958,1967,1968-1970)
  • 10 Centimos (1905,1910,1912,1914,1929,1951,1953,1958,1967,1969)
  • 25 Centimos (1935,1970)
  • 50 Centimos (1904,1914,1935,1968,1970)

Cuba

  • 1 Centavo (1915-1916,1920,1938,1943,1946,1953,1958)
  • 2 Centavos (1915-1916)
  • 5 Centavos (1915-1916,1920,1943,1946,1960)
  • 10 Centavos (1915-1916,1920,1948-1949,1952)
  • 20 Centavos (1915-1916,1920-1921,1932,1948-1949,1952)
  • 25 Centavos (1953)
  • 40 Centavos (1915-1916,1920,1952)
  • 50 Centavos (1953)
  • 1 Peso (1915-1916,1932-1939,1953)
  • 1 Gold Peso (1915-1916)
  • 2 Pesos (1915-1916)
  • 4 Pesos (1915-1916)
  • 5 Pesos (1915-1916)
  • 10 Pesos (1915-1916)
  • 20 Pesos (1915-1916)

Curacao

  • 1 Centstukeen (1942,1944)
  • 2 1/2 Centstukken (1944)
  • 5 Centstukken (1943)
  • 10 Centstukken (1941,1943-1944)
  • 25 Centstukken (1941,1943-1944)
  • Riksdaalder (1944)
  • 1 Gulden (1944)

Dominican Republic

  • 1 Centavo (1939,1941-1942,1944,1947,1949,1951,1955-1957,1959,1978-1979)
  • 5 Centavos (1939,1945,1951,1959,1978-1979)
  • 10 Centavos (1898,1939,1942,1951,1953,1959,1978-1980)
  • 20 Centavos (1897)
  • 25 Centavos (1939,1942,1947,1951,1960,1978-1980)
  • 50 Centavos (1978-1980)
  • Half Peso (1897,1947,1951,1960)
  • 1 Peso (1897,1939,1955,1959,1978-1979)

Ecuador

  • 1 Decimo (1916)
  • 2 Decimos (1895,1914,1916)
  • 1 Centavo (1928)
  • 2 1/2 Centavos (1917,1928)
  • 5 Centavos (1917-1918,1928,1942,1944,1946)
  • 10 Centavos (1918,1928,1942,1946)
  • 20 Centavos (1942,1944,1946)
  • 50 Centavos (1928,1930)
  • 1 Sucre (1928,1930,1934,1946)
  • 2 Sucres (1928,1930)

El Salvador

  • 1 Centavo (1915,1919-1920,1925,1928,1936,1940,1943,1945,1947,1951,1953,1956,1968-1969,1973)
  • 3 Centavos (1915)
  • 5 Centavos (1914-1921,1925,1940,1944,1948,1950-1952,1956,1961,1963,1967,1973)
  • 10 Centavos (1914,1921,1925,1940,1951-1952,1967-1969,1973)
  • 25 Centavos (1914,1943,1952)
  • 50 Centavos (1952)
  • 1 Peso (1904,1909,1911,1914)

Ethiopia – Various coins were dated ‘1936’ but were minted various years between 1944 to 1963

Fiji

  • Half Penny (1942-1943)
  • Penny (1942-1943)
  • Sixpence (1942-1943)
  • Shilling (1942-1943)
  • Florin (1942-1943)

France

  • 2 Francs (1944)

French Indo China

  • 1 Centime (1920)
  • 10 Centimes (1920,1940-1941)
  • 20 Centimes (1920,1941)
  • 1 Piastre (1921-1922)

Greenland

  • 5 Kroner (1944)

Guatemala

  • 1 Centavo (1943-1944)
  • 2 Centavos (1943-1944)
  • 5 Centavos (1943)
  • 10 Centavos (1943)
  • 25 Centavos (1925,1943)
  • 50 Centavos (1925)
  • 1 Quetzal (1925)
  • 5 Quetzals (1926)
  • 10 Quetzals (1926)
  • 20 Quetzals (1926)

Haiti

  • 5 Centimes (1949,1953,1958,1970,1975)
  • 10 Centimes (1949,1953,1958,1970,1975)
  • 20 Centimes (1956,1970,1973,1975)
  • 50 Centimes (1973,1975,1979)
  • 25 Gourdes (1976)
  • 50 Gourdes (1976)

Hawaii – Pre-Statehood

  • Dime (1883)
  • Quarter (1883)
  • Half Dollar (1883)
  • Dollar (1883)

Honduras

  • 1 Centavo (1935,1939,1949,1956-1957)
  • 2 Centavos (1939,1949,1956)
  • 5 Centavos (1931-1933,1949,1956,1972)
  • 10 Centavos (1932-1933,1951,1956)
  • 20 Centavos (1931-1933,1951-1952,1958)
  • 50 Centavos (1931-1933,1937,1951,1974)
  • 1 Lempira (1931-1935,1937)

Israel

  • 10 Lirot (1969)

Korea (South)

  • 10 Hwan (1959-1962)
  • 50 Hwan (1959-1960,1962)
  • 100 Hwan (1959-1960)

Liberia

  • Half Cent (1941)
  • Cent (1941,1960-1961,1969-1972,1974-1975)
  • 2 Cents (1941)
  • 5 Cents (1960-1961,1969-1972,1974-1975)
  • 10 Cents (1960-1961,1969-1972,1974-1975)
  • 25 Cents (1960-1961,1969-1972,1974-1975)
  • 50 Cents (1960-1961,1969-1972,1974-1975)
  • 1 Dollar (1961,1969-1972,1974-1975)
  • 5 Dollars (1974-1975)

Mexico

  • 20 Centavos (1907)
  • 50 Centavos (1906-1907,1935)
  • 1 Peso (1898) – Actually minted in 1970
  • 5 Pesos (1906)
  • 10 Pesos (1906)

Nepal

  • 1 Pice (1970-1974)
  • 2 Pice (1970-1974)
  • 5 Pice (1970-1974)
  • 10 Pice (1970-1974)
  • 25 Pice (1970-1974)
  • 50 Pice (1970-1974)
  • 1 Rupee (1970-1974)

Netherlands

  • 10 Centstukken (1944-1945)
  • 25 Centstukken (1944-1945)
  • 1 Gulden (1944-1945)

Netherlands East Indies

  • 1/2 Centstukken (1945)
  • 1 Centstukken (1942,1945-1946)
  • 2 1/2 Centstukken (1945-1946)
  • 10 Centstukken (1941-1942,1945)
  • 25 Centstukken (1941-1942,1945)
  • 1 Gulden (1943)
  • 2 1/2 Gulders (1943)

Nicaragua

  • 1/2 Centavo (1917,1922,1924,1934,1936-1937)
  • 1 Centavo (1917,1919-1920,1922,1924,1927-1930,1934-1938,1940,1943)
  • 5 Centavos (1919-1920,1927-1930,1934,1936-1938,1940,1943)
  • 10 Centavos (1927-1928,1930,1936,1943)
  • 25 Centavos (1928-1930,1936,1943)
  • 50 Centavos (1929)

Panama

  • 1/2 Centismo (1907)
  • 1 Centisimo (1935,1937,1967-1970,1972-1975,1977-1980)
  • 1 1/4 Centisimo (1940)
  • 2 1/2 Centismos (1904,1907,1916,1940,1974-1975)
  • 5 Centismos (1904,1916,1932,1967-1975)
  • 10 Centismos (1904)
  • Half Peso (1904-1905)
  • 1 Peso (1904-1905)
  • 1/10 Balboa (1930-1934,1947,1967-1975,1980)
  • 1/4 Balboa (1930-1934,1947,1966-1975,1979-1980)
  • 1/2 Balboa (1930,1932,1947,1967-,1975,1979-1980)
  • 1 Balboa (1931,1934,1947,1967-1975)
  • 5 Balboas (1972)

Peru

  • 1 Centavo (1919)
  • 2 Centavos (1919)
  • 5 Centavos (1918-1919,1923,1926,1942-1944)
  • 10 Centavos (1918-1921,1926,1942-1944)
  • 20 Centavos (1918-1921,1926,1942-1944)
  • 50 Centavos (1945)
  • 1/2 Sol (1942-1944)
  • 1 Sol (1924-1926,1943-1944,1975-1977)

Philippines

  • 1/2 Centavo (1903-1906,1908-1909)
  • 1 Centavo (1903-1906,1908-1920,1944,1958,1960-1963)
  • 5 Centavos (1903-1906,1908-1909,1917-1919,1944-1945,1958-1959,1961-1963)
  • 10 Centavos (1903-1919,1944-1945,1958,1960,1962-1963)
  • 20 Centavos (1903-1919,1944-1945)
  • 25 Centavos (1958,1960,1962)
  • 50 Centavos (1903-1909,1917-1919,1944-1945,1947,1958)
  • Half Peso (1961)
  • 1 Peso (1903-1912,1947,1961,1967,1969-1970,1972-1973)
  • 1 Sentimo (1967-1970,1975-1976)
  • 5 Sentimos (1967-1968,1970-1977)
  • 10 Sentimos (1967-1976)
  • 25 Sentimos (1967-1976)
  • 50 Sentimos (1968,1971,1973-1975)
  • 1 Piso (1974-1976)

Poland

  • 2 Zloty (1924-1925)

Saudi Arabia – Various coins minted between 1944 – 1949 dated either ‘1354 Islamic Calendar’ or ‘1356 Islamic Calendar’

Surinam

  • 1 Centstukken (1942-1943)
  • 5 Centstukken (1944)
  • 10 Centstukken (1941-1943)
  • 25 Centstukken (1941-1943)

Syria

  • 1/2 Pound (1950)
  • 1 Pound (1950)

Taiwan

  • 1 Dollar (1973-1974)
  • 5 Dollars (1973-1974)

Thailand

  • 1 Satang (Minted 1918 – 1919, Coin dated 2461 and 2462 Siamese/Thai Calendar)

Venezuela

  • 1 Centavo (1876-1877)
  • 2 1/2 Centavos (1876-1877)
  • 5 Centimos (1921,1925,1927,1929,1936,1938,1944-1946,1948,1959)
  • 12 1/2 Centimos (1925,1927,1929,1936,1938,1945-1946,1948,1959)
  • 1/4 Bolivar (1903,1921,1924,1929,1935-1936,1944-1946,1948,1954)
  • 1/2 Bolivar (1903,1921,1924,1929,1935-1936,1944-1946,1954)
  • 1 Bolivar (1903,1921,1924,1926,1929,1935-1936,1945-1946,1954)
  • 2 Bolivares (1902-1903,1922,1924,1926,1929-1930,1935-1936,1945)
  • 5 Bolivares (1902-1903,1921,1924,1926,1929,1935-1936)
  • 10 Bolivares (1930)

Did you know the US minted over 10 billion Foreign Coins?

It’s true. Proofs, Uncirculated, and Circulated Coins. Gold, Silver, Copper, Steel, Aluminum, etc.  Lots of coins to choose from. You could even try to do a foreign type set of some of these. Would you consider collecting foreign coins minted by the US?