The early European colonists in America had little need for coins and relied on the barter system as a means for trade. As towns and cities grew, a more sophisticated medium of exchange was needed. Most American colonies were ruled by the King of England, who did not permit colonists to manufacture coins. Massachusetts Bay Colony was the first to challenge the prohibition on coins and began minting coins in 1652. From 1652 until the Revolutionary War, colonies manufactured coins which have survived today for collector and investor enjoyment.
