This book offers a comprehensive examination of the development of American coinage from the founding of the United States Mint to the present. Integrating institutional history, legislative analysis, and material culture, the volume traces the evolution of circulating denominations, the role of Congress in shaping coin design, and the processes underlying mint production. It also explores debates over discontinuation, redesign, and the future of low-denomination coins, alongside the growth of commemorative coin programs. This book provides a critical account of how metallic currency reflects and informs national priorities, governance, and public memory.