On October 15, 1794, Henry Voigt, the Chief Coiner of the United States, hurried nearly 2,000 silver coins to the desk of David Rittenhouse, the Director of the United States Mint. That day marked a milestone in the making of a country: Two years after Alexander Hamilton established the Mint under President George Washington, the first dollars had been minted. There’s some debate about what happened next. Some experts say there was a ceremony, well-attended by diplomats and representatives. Others say that despite the historic event, it was all business—no…
