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Large Cents

The Large Cent appeared in 1793, at nearly the same time as the Half Cent. Together, these coppers were the first coins released by the United States into general circulation.

The initial type, Flowing Hair Chain Cent reverse (the first coin pictured below), was not well received by the public, as typified by the comments of a Boston newspaper in March, 1793:

The American cents.... do not answer our expectations.  The chain on the reverse is but a bad omen for Liberty, and Liberty herself appears to be in a fright.

Complaints such as the above led to the replacement of the "bondage" chain with a wreath within a matter of weeks. Critics continued to whine about the maniacal Liberty, however, so later in 1793, she was replaced by a calmer Liberty.  This time, she was also seen with a Liberty cap, similar to the Half Cent design, to celebrate the newfound freedom of the United States.

Large cents were just that -- large.  A dollar's worth of the Large Cents of 1793-1794 weighed almost three pounds!  In 1795, the weight was reduced somewhat to adjust to the price of copper, but nonetheless remained big and clunky.

1793 Chain cent obv

1793 Chain cent rev

Flowing Hair Chain Cent Specifications

Diameter:

Weight:

Minted:

Composition:

Designer

Edge:

26.5 mm approx.

13.48 g

1793

1.000

Henry Voight

Vine & Bars

Coin Photos courtesy of Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc., Beverly Hills, CA.

The Act of February 21, 1857 specified a new type of smaller one cent coin, which marked the end of both the Large Cent and Half Cent.  The public was encouraged to trade in their Large Cent coins for the smaller Flying Eagle cent.  After 64 years of service to the U.S., the oversized copper coins were at last retired.

In all, there are seven design types of Large Cents: Flowing Hair Chain Reverse (shown above, 1793 only), Flowing Hair Wreath Reverse (1793 only), Liberty Cap (1793-1796), Draped Bust (1796-1807), Classic Head (1808-1814), Liberty Head (1816-1839), and Liberty Head Braided Hair (1839-1857).

Large Cents were minted every year from 1793 to 1857, with the exception of 1815, when the War of 1812 interrupted the planchet supply from England.  Most Large Cents were produced in significant quantities, giving collectors of today a good supply to select from.  There are a few key dates that are rare and fought for by numismatists.  If past trends mean anything, and they usually do, these are the Large Cents most likely to increase in value in the years ahead:

1793 (all varieties)

1799

1804

Key date Large Cents are offered for sale below.  The left hand side of each "Sales Box" is value trend data over a very long period of time for a coin of that date in Good-4 condition.  The percent annual increase is computed for comparative purposes.  The coin pictured for sale in the right hand side is not necessarily the same condition coin or same variety as that represented in the value trend analysis on left hand side.

1793

Lg Cent Lib Cap
Condition: G-4

   

1799

Large Cent
Condition: G-4

 

Value Trends

1950:  $60.00

1980:  $600

1995:  $2250

2003:  $2500

2007:  $8000

Value Trends

1950:  $65.00

1980:  $475

1995:  $1500

2003:  $2000

2007:  $3500

% Annual Increase Since 1950  =

8.96%

% Annual Increase Since 1950  =

7.24%



1804

Large Cent
Condition: G-4

 

Value Trends

1950:  $50.00

1980:  $275

1995:  $600

2003:  $825

2007:  $1500

% Annual Increase Since 1950  =

6.15%


Half Cents 1793-1857

Large Cents 1793-1857

Flying Eagle Cents 1856-1858

Indian Head Cents 1859-1909

Lincoln Cents 1909-present

Two and Three Cents 1851-1889

Shield Nickels 1866-1883

Liberty Nickels 1883-1913

Buffalo Nickels 1913-1938

Jefferson Nickels 1938-present

Early Half Dimes 1792-1837

Seated Liberty Half Dimes 1837-1873

Early Dimes 1796-1837

Seated Liberty Dimes 1837-1891

Barber Dimes 1892-1916

Mercury Dimes 1916-1945

Roosevelt Dimes 1946-present

Twenty Cents 1875-1878

Early Quarters 1796-1838

Seated Liberty Quarters 1838-1891

Barber Quarters 1892-1916

Standing Liberty Quarters 1916-1930

Washington Quarters 1932-present

Early Half Dollars 1794-1839

Seated Liberty Half Dollars 1839-1891

Barber Half Dollars 1892-1915

Walking Liberty Half Dollars 1916-1947

Franklin Half Dollars 1948-1963

Kennedy Half Dollars 1964-Present

Early Dollars 1794-1804

Gobrecht Dollars 1836-1839

Seated Liberty Dollars 1840-1873

Trade Dollars 1873-1885

Morgan Dollars 1878-1921

Peace Dollars 1921-1935

Eisenhower Dollars 1971-1978

Anthony Dollars 1979-1981,1999

Sacagawea Dollars 2000-present

Presidential Dollars 2007-present

Gold Dollars 1849-1889

Early Quarter Eagles 1796-1834

Classic Head Quarter Eagles 1834-1839

Coronet Quarter Eagles 1840-1907

Indian Head Quarter Eagles 1908-1929

Three Dollar Gold 1854-1889

Early Half Eagles 1795-1834

Classic Head Half Eagles 1834-1838

Coronet Half Eagles 1839-1908

Indian Head Half Eagles 1908-1929

Early Eagles 1795-1804

Coronet Eagles 1838-1907

Indian Head Eagles 1907-1933

Coronet Double Eagles 1849-1907

St-Gaudens Double Eagles 1907-1933

Image Preview This is a manually operated coining press, very similar to those employed at the Philadelphia Mint in 1793.  The first United States coin minted for circulation, the Chain cent, came off a press of this type.  Steam power machinery didn't arrive at the Mint until 1816, in the form of a roll machine.  Up until then, all energy was supplied by human and horse muscles.  Steam power coin presses were finally installed in 1836.

                              Public domain image.

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1793 Wreath cent obv

1793 Wreath cent rev

Flowing Hair Wreath Cent Specifications

Diameter:

Weight:

Minted:

Composition:

Designer

Edge:

26.5 mm approx.

13.48 g

1793

1.000 Cu

Adam Eckfeldt

Vine & Bars
or Lettered

Coin Photos courtesy of Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc., Beverly Hills, CA.



Liberty Cap cent obv

Liberty Cap cent rev

Liberty Cap Cent Specifications

Diameter:

Weight:

Minted:

Composition:

Designer

Edge:

28.5 mm approx.

13.48 g

1793-1795

1.000 Cu

Joseph Wright

Lettered

28.5 mm approx.

10.89 g

1795-1796

1.000 Cu

John S. Gardner

Plain

Coin Photos courtesy of Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc., Beverly Hills, CA.



Draped Bust cent obv

Draped Bust cent rev

Draped Bust Cent Specifications

Diameter:

Weight:

Minted:

Composition:

Designer

Edge:

28.5 mm approx.

10.89 g

1796-1807

1.000 Cu

Robert Scot

Plain

Coin Photos courtesy of Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc., Beverly Hills, CA.



Classic Head Cent obv

Classic Head Cent rev

Classic Head Cent Specifications

Diameter:

Weight:

Minted:

Composition:

Designer

Edge:

28.5 mm approx.

10.89 g

1808-1814

1.000 Cu

John Reich

Plain

Coin Photos courtesy of Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc., Beverly Hills, CA.



Liberty Head cent obv

Liberty Head cent rev

Liberty Head Cent Specifications

Diameter:

Weight:

Minted:

Composition:

Designer

Edge:

28.5 mm approx.

10.89 g

1816-1839

1.000 Cu

Robert Scot

Plain

Coin Photos courtesy of Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc., Beverly Hills, CA.



Braided Hair cent obv

Braided Hair cent rev

Braided Hair Cent Specifications

Diameter:

Weight:

Minted:

Composition:

Designer

Edge:

27.5 mm

10.89 g

1839-1857

1.000 Cu

Christian Gobrecht

Plain

Coin Photos courtesy of Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc., Beverly Hills, CA.

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