The 2002 film "Gangs of New York" is set in early 1860's New York City during the American Civil War. Several scenes show US gold and silver coins of the period. The film is set in the "Five Points" area of New York City and is about conflicts between native-born Protestant Americans and Irish Catholic immigrants.

In 1846 Irish boy Amsterdam Vallon is around six years old.

Amsterdam's father Priest Vallon gives him a religious medal of St. Michael vanquishing Satan.

Priest is the leader of a group of Irish immigrants and they are going to fight a group of native-born Americans for control of the Five Points area. The leader of the "Natives" is Bill Cutting, and during the fight, Bill kills Priest. The boy is sent to an orphanage/reform school and is discharged 16 years later in 1862.

The American Civil War is raging and New York City has pro-Union and pro-Confederacy groups.

Bill Cutting is still a gang leader but has become "respectable" and decides to enter politics.

Bill goes to see William "Boss" Tweed, the head of the Democratic Party or "Tammany Hall" political machine.

Bill arranges to get votes for Boss Tweed.

The Five Points area in lower New York is the poorest part of the city and located near the waterfront. Bill and Amsterdam know Jenny Everdeane, a pretty local Irish girl.

Jenny is a pickpocket and sometimes impersonates a maid to enter wealthy houses and steal goods. She is much admired for refusing to sell her body. Bill watches some Chinese immigrants play an early board game.

Some Liberty Seated silver dollars are shown. Bill is at his headquarters with his cronies.

Bill and some friends play cards, this time Whist not Poker.

The coins appear to be Liberty Seated dollars and quarters (25¢) Amsterdam has joined Bill's group; Bill apparently doesn't recognize the lad as the son of the man he killed many years before. Bill sends Amsterdam and some men to rob a ship in the harbor. They find a dead policeman and Bill finds a way to dispose of the body and make some money.

Amsterdam sells the body to a medical researcher as a "body-snatcher."

The coins are Liberty Seated dollars and a Liberty Head five-dollar gold coin. Jenny is practicing her pickpocket trade, she gets Amsterdam's religious medal, then boards a bus, and drops a dime in front of a well-dressed man.

The dime appears to be a Liberty Seated dime (10¢). Jenny engages the man in conversation while she robs him. Amsterdam follows her and at a secluded spot demands his medal back. Jenny has several stolen medals and invites him to pick his out.

Things are becoming more violent in New York in July 1863. The Union has instituted a military draft and there is a lot of local resistance. The city is full of ethnic and racial groups who don't get along. The Natives and the Irish gangs decide to hold another battle. They agree not to use guns but knives and other weapons are all right.

Bill Cutting is at the head of this group.

Amsterdam has left Bill's employ and is with the Irish.

Riots sweep the city, the rioters burn buildings and attack wealthy houses and offices, including those of Boss Tweed.

Tweed is ready for attacks and there are a pair of large medals on a desk behind him. The rioters set P.T. Barnum's exhibit on fire and the wild animals escape into the streets.

The two gangs converge for their fight, soldiers are brought in to stop the riots, and warships shell the city. Amsterdam and Bill engage in combat with Bill dying.

Jenny shows up and she and Amsterdam walk away.

Leonardo DiCaprio as Amsterdam Vallon
Daniel Day-Lewis as Bill Cutting
Cameron Diaz as Jenny Everdeane
Jim Broadbent as William 'Boss' Tweed
Director: Martin Scorsese
Writers: Jay Cocks, Steven Zaillian, Kenneth Lonergan