Canceled denominations of United States currency


The United States has several coins and banknotes which were proposed at one time but never adopted.

Banknotes

A three dollar bill was proposed two times during the 1860s. A design was engraved for a potential $3 United States Note, and a 1865 law called for a $3 National Bank Note, but neither proposal came to fruition.
DenominationObverseReverseNotes
$3 noteNot to be confused with fake or privately issued obsolete notes or the three-dollar Continental currency banknotes issued during the American Revolution

Coinage

There have been several United States coins which were proposed but never adopted. Most of the coins listed below, although never adopted, were produced in limited numbers as patterns.
DenominationObverseReverseWeightDiameterMaterialEdgeMintedNotes
Silver center cent
1¢		4.48 g24.00 mmCu
Ag 		reeded1792The first and only US bi-metallic coin until the 2000 Library of Congress ten dollar coin.
Ring cent
1¢		various weights90% Cu
10% Ag		various1850–1851, 1853, 1884–1885196 ring cents are known to exist. Examples exist with or without a hole.
Aluminum cent
1¢		0.937 g19.05 mm96% Al
4% trace metals		plain1973–1975
Two-cent billon
2¢		3.84 g~13.00 mm90% Cu
10% Ag		plain1836
Two and a half cent piece
2.5¢		unknownunknownunknownunknownnever mintedProposed in 1916 by US mint director Robert W. Woolley.
Civil War tokens of this denomination exist.
Three-cent bronze
3¢		10.89 g28.57 mm95% Cu
5% Zn		plain1863
Ring nickel
5¢		plain1884–1885
Gold ring half dollar
50¢		1852
Gold ring dollar
$1		1849, 1852
Two dollar piece
$2		unknownunknownunknownunknownnever mintedProposed but not minted. Some privately struck renditions exist.
Stella
$4		7.00 g22 mm6.00g Au
0.30g Ag
0.70g Cu		reeded1879–1880
Half-union
$50		83.58 g50.80 mm90% Au
10% Cu		reeded1877Commemorative coins of this denomination were issued in 1915.
Several bullion coins are produced in this denomination.
Union
$100		unknownunknown90% Au
10% Cu		unknownnever mintedCanceled before any patterns could be minted.
Some commemorative and bullion coins are minted in this denomination.