They started building the first US Mint in 1792, but some coins were made under contract in 1787. The first coins made under US authority via these contracts were the Fugio coins. Made by James Jarvis who owned the Connecticut Coin building corporation. He bribed Col. William Duer with $10,000, who was the then head of the Board of Treasury. Jarvis was contracted to deliver 345 tons of copper coins to the federal government. The 13 circles represented the 13 states. Jarvis only delivered 11,910 poinds of the 554,741 pound contract. Causing congress to cancel the contract. All Fugios were actually minted in 1788 and back dated to 1787.

I do not own an original Fugio, the images are from a replica.