# What is the oldest coin design still in use today? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 2, 2013, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-oldest-coin-design-still-in-use-today/654661 "2013-04-02T20:29:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2013, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-oldest-coin-design-still-in-use-today/654661/1 "2013-04-02T20:29:45Z")
What coin still in use today has a design that has remained unchanged (excepting the year) the longest? ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2013, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-oldest-coin-design-still-in-use-today/654661/2 "2013-04-02T20:57:03Z")
The [Swiss franc](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coins_of_the_Swiss_franc) coins seem to be a strong contender: “The oldest coins are still valid today; the 10 Rappen coins dating back to 1879. They are therefore among the oldest still valid coins worldwide. To date, they have the same design and the same alloy (copper, nickel).” ---
**Author:** ![Mk\_VII](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Mk\_VII](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mk_VII)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2013, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-oldest-coin-design-still-in-use-today/654661/3 "2013-04-02T20:57:48Z")
The Maria Theresa thaller? (though hardly in everyday circulation). The British sovereign is still legal tender, and being minted (though you’d be crazy to pay for anything with one) ---
**Author:** ![Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e4f/32.png) [@Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_is_the_new_Analog)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2013, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-oldest-coin-design-still-in-use-today/654661/4 "2013-04-02T23:37:24Z")
How old is [Yap’s stone money](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yap#Stone_money)? ETA: Although you might not consider a coin, since the smallest of them is apparently 1 foot in diameter. ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2013, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-oldest-coin-design-still-in-use-today/654661/5 "2013-04-03T04:24:40Z")
I think the OP may mean the coin still being minted with the same design. If not, I’d like to know while we’re at this. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2013, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-oldest-coin-design-still-in-use-today/654661/6 "2013-04-03T04:40:20Z")
> [@Mk\_VII](#): > > The Maria Theresa thaller? (though hardly in everyday circulation). > The British sovereign is still legal tender, and being minted (though you’d be crazy to pay for anything with one) Except the sovereign changes with each sovereign, right? So the current design for the sovereign can’t be older than 1952. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2013, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-oldest-coin-design-still-in-use-today/654661/7 "2013-04-03T04:53:04Z")
> [@Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](#): > > How old is [Yap’s stone money](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yap#Stone_money)? > > ETA: Although you might not consider a coin, since the smallest of them is apparently 1 foot in diameter. Can I exchange eight of them for one Triganic Pu? ---
**Author:** ![UDS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecae2f/32.png) [@UDS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UDS)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2013, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-oldest-coin-design-still-in-use-today/654661/8 "2013-04-03T05:22:38Z")
The UK one-shilling/5p coin had the same weight and dimensions, and all coins minted remained legal tender and circulated freely, continually from 1816 to 1990 - 174 years. The emblems on the coin, and the sovereign’s head, varied during this period, and on decimalisation in 1971 it was redenominated from 1s. to 5p, but it would generally be considered to be the same coin throughout. However it doesn’t fit the OP’s criteria, since it is not in current circulation. The UK florin (2s. or 10p) was in continous circulation with the same weight and dimensions from 1849 to 1993 - 144 years. Again, though, the emblems and the sovereign’s head changed over this period. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2013, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-oldest-coin-design-still-in-use-today/654661/9 "2013-04-03T06:06:24Z")
Wouldn’t the United States 5c piece with Jefferson on the obverse and Monticello on the reverse be a strong contender? Minted from 1938 to 2004, it was virtually unchanged in all particulars–alloy, weight, and design, and still circulates abundantly today. If a coin has to be changed when a new monarch ascends to the throne, or when decimalization was introduced, then I don’t think it’s fair to include it in the running–it’s not quite–ah–cricket! ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2013, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-oldest-coin-design-still-in-use-today/654661/10 "2013-04-03T07:33:36Z")
> [@UDS](#): > > The UK one-shilling/5p coin had the same weight and dimensions, and all coins minted remained legal tender and circulated freely, continually from 1816 to 1990 - 174 years. The emblems on the coin, and the sovereign’s head, varied during this period, and on decimalisation in 1971 it was redenominated from 1s. to 5p, but it would generally be considered to be the same coin throughout. > > However it doesn’t fit the OP’s criteria, since it is not in current circulation. > > The UK florin (2s. or 10p) was in continous circulation with the same weight and dimensions from 1849 to 1993 - 144 years. Again, though, the emblems and the sovereign’s head changed over this period. Minor nitpick: 5p and 10p were current from 1968 although decimalisation was not until February the 15th 1971. ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2013, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-oldest-coin-design-still-in-use-today/654661/11 "2013-04-03T15:54:28Z")
> [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](#): > > Wouldn’t the United States 5c piece with Jefferson on the obverse and Monticello on the reverse be a strong contender? Minted from 1938 to 2004, it was virtually unchanged in all particulars–alloy, weight, and design, and still circulates abundantly today. The face and size of (US) Lincoln pennies (1 cent) has remained the same since 1909. However, newly minted pennies are zinc, not copper. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2013, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-oldest-coin-design-still-in-use-today/654661/12 "2013-04-04T02:23:31Z")
> [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](#): > > Wouldn’t the United States 5c piece with Jefferson on the obverse and Monticello on the reverse be a strong contender? Minted from 1938 to 2004, it was virtually unchanged in all particulars–alloy, weight, and design, and still circulates abundantly today. For a couple years during WWII, they minted nickels with silver instead of copper. The copper was needed for the war. For the same reason they made pennies with steel in those years. The steel pennies were coated with zinc to keep them from rusting, but unfortunately the zinc wasn’t on the edge, so they rusted anyway. Both are fairly valuable if you can find them. > [@elmwood](#): > > The face and size of (US) Lincoln pennies (1 cent) has remained the same since 1909. However, newly minted pennies are zinc, not copper. But they change the reverse every 50 years just to keep us from getting bored with them. ---
**Author:** ![Jefferey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8797f3/32.png) [@Jefferey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jefferey)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2013, 9:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-oldest-coin-design-still-in-use-today/654661/13 "2013-04-05T09:17:35Z")
I think Swiss franc coins. ---
**Author:** ![cckerberos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@cckerberos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cckerberos)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2013, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-oldest-coin-design-still-in-use-today/654661/14 "2013-04-05T12:00:34Z")
> [@scr4](#): > > The [Swiss franc](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coins_of_the_Swiss_franc) coins seem to be a strong contender: > > “The oldest coins are still valid today; the 10 Rappen coins dating back to 1879. They are therefore among the oldest still valid coins worldwide. To date, they have the same design and the same alloy (copper, nickel).” Yep. Compare the image in that link with the one [here](http://coins.delcampe.net/page/item/id,187292154,var,SUISSE-10-RAPPEN-1879,language,E.html). ---
**Author:** ![Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aji_de_gallina/32/260_2.png) [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aji_de_Gallina)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2013, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-oldest-coin-design-still-in-use-today/654661/15 "2013-04-05T13:45:26Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > Except the sovereign changes with each sovereign, right? So the current design for the sovereign can’t be older than 1952. The Maria Thresa Thaler has been minted with her bust and the same year 1780 since then, even by mints that are not Austrian. Although, I think, not legal tender, it is still much used for trade. ---
**Author:** ![Sal\_Ammoniac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@Sal\_Ammoniac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sal_Ammoniac)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2013, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-oldest-coin-design-still-in-use-today/654661/16 "2013-04-05T16:18:08Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > For a couple years during WWII, they minted nickels with silver instead of copper. The copper was needed for the war. For the same reason they made pennies with steel in those years. The steel pennies were coated with zinc to keep them from rusting, but unfortunately the zinc wasn’t on the edge, so they rusted anyway. Both are fairly valuable if you can find them. A common misconception. Most are worth practically nothing. ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2013, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-oldest-coin-design-still-in-use-today/654661/17 "2013-04-05T16:22:29Z")
Plus they only minted the ‘steel penny’ in 1943. ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2013, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-oldest-coin-design-still-in-use-today/654661/18 "2013-04-05T16:24:08Z")
> [@elmwood](#): > > The face and size of (US) Lincoln pennies (1 cent) has remained the same since 1909. However, newly minted pennies are zinc, not copper. Though the face has remained the same, they went from the wheat stalks to the memorial design on the back in 1959, which is a major change. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Girlfriend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.girlfriend/32/193_2.png) [@Dr.Girlfriend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Girlfriend)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2013, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-oldest-coin-design-still-in-use-today/654661/19 "2013-04-05T16:35:20Z")
The US Roosevelt Dime hasn’t had any design changes since 1946. The metallic composition changed from 90% silver in 1965 to the current copper-nickel. ---
**Author:** ![Pushkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2013, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-oldest-coin-design-still-in-use-today/654661/20 "2013-04-06T17:59:07Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > Can I exchange eight of them for one Triganic Pu? Details in the article on that stone money easily give sections of the Hitch Hiker’s Guide a run for its money. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-oldest-coin-design-still-in-use-today/654661.md?page=2)