US Flag

American Currency

Coins can be pennies, nickels, dimes, or quarters. We also have half-dollars (sometimes called 50-cent pieces) and dollar coins, but they are not used as much. The front of a coin is called "heads" and the back is called "tails".

This is a penny. It is worth one cent. One hundred pennies are the same as one dollar. On the head of the penny is Abraham Lincoln. He was our 16th president. On the tail side, you can see the Lincoln Monument, which is in Washington DC.

This is a nickel. It is worth 5 cents. Twenty nickels make one dollar. Five pennies make one nickel. On the front is a picture of Thomas Jefferson. He was our 3d president. On the back is his home, named Monticello.

This is a dime. It is worth 10 cents. Ten dimes make one dollar. Ten pennies make one dime. Two nickels make one dime. On the front is a picture of Franklin D. Roosevelt. He was our 32nd president. On the back is a picture of a flame and some leaves.

This is a quarter. It is worth 25 cents. Four quarters make one dollar. Twenty-five pennies make one quarter. Five nickels make one quarter. On the front is a picture of George Washington. He was our 1st president. On the back is a picture of an eagle.

Starting in 1999, the US Mint plans to release five new quarters a year to commemorate each state. For activities some classroom ideas you can go to http://www.usmint.gov/kids/index.cfm?fileContents=teachers/lessonPlans/lesson_select.cfm.
Bills are paper money. They can be worth $1, $2, $5, $10, $20 or more. Here is a picture of a one-dollar bill. George Washington is on the front of the one-dollar bill.
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