What was the first official circulation coin of the United States?

The Fugio cent was the first official circulation coin of the United States.

The Congress of the Confederation authorized an official copper penny design on April 21, 1787. The resulting coin, dated 1787, became known as the Fugio cent because its sundial design carries the Latin word “Fugio,” meaning “I flee” or “I fly,” a reference to time passing.

The coin’s reverse displays the motto “We Are One” surrounded by thirteen linked rings, representing the original states. Its obverse also carries the phrase “Mind Your Business.” The design is often associated with Benjamin Franklin because it resembles imagery he used on earlier Continental currency, although the coin’s designer is not conclusively known.

The Fugio cent is sometimes confused with the Continental dollar, which was produced as a pattern and did not circulate as an official coin. It also predates the large cents issued by the United States Mint beginning in 1793. The Fugio cent therefore belongs to the transition between the Confederation government and the federal system created by the Constitution.