View source for Large cent

{{short description|One-cent coin in the United States from 1793 to 1857}}
{{for|the large Canadian one-cent coin minted from 1858–1920|penny (Canadian coin)}}
[[File:1819 cent obv.jpg|thumb|upright=1.25|The 1819 "Matron Head" large cent.]]

The [[United States]] '''large cent''' was a [[coin]] with a [[face value]] of {{frac|1|100}} of a [[United States dollar]]. Its nominal diameter was 1{{Fraction|1|8}} inch (28.57&nbsp;mm). The first official mintage of the large cent was in 1793, and its production continued until 1857, when it was officially replaced by the [[Penny (United States coin)|modern-size one-cent coin]] (commonly called the [[penny]]).

Large cents were made of nearly pure [[copper]], or copper as pure as it emerged from [[smelting]], without any deliberate addition of other metals (such as occurs in [[bronze]]).

==General history==
First struck in 1793, the large cent was minted every year from 1793 to 1857, except 1815. When the United States [[War of 1812|declared war]] in 1812 against [[Great Britain]], coinage was affected. The wartime embargo against shipments made it so the mint could not get any new copper [[planchet|planchets]], which were imported from Great Britain, to strike coins.<ref name="1815 cents">{{cite journal |last=Eckberg |first=Bill |date=February 2015 |title=1815: War's end and the mint |journal=[[Coin World]] |publisher=Coin World }}</ref><ref>Whitman The Official Guide Book to United States Coins 64th Edition 2010 Page #93</ref>  The mint made do with what supply it had and struck coins into 1815. After the war ended in 1815, the mint wasted no time in ordering new planchets. For an unknown reason, no coins were dated 1815 from the supply the mint had in the interim.<ref name="1815 cents" />  There may have not been a significant supply of planchets left, and when new ones were received, it may have been easier to use the old design and date.  However there is a slight difference in the style of the "4" which may indicate which coins were minted the following year.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.coinworld.com/news/precious-metals/coin-world-numismatics-coin-collecting-hobby-1815-cents-philadelphia-mint-bill-eckberg-war-of-1812-american-history-us-coins.html |title=1815 the only date since 1793 for which no cents can be found |access-date=2020-10-05 |archive-date=2021-01-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120165705/https://www.coinworld.com/news/precious-metals/coin-world-numismatics-coin-collecting-hobby-1815-cents-philadelphia-mint-bill-eckberg-war-of-1812-american-history-us-coins.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In addition to the copper shortage, people also hoarded precious metals during the war.'''<ref name="1815 cents" />'''  Altered and fantasy cents with the 1815 date occasionally appear.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.numismaticnews.net/article/striker_sells_1784_half_disme_reproduction |title=Striker sells 1784 half disme reproduction |date=21 July 2008 |access-date=2020-10-05 |archive-date=2020-10-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201008224038/https://www.numismaticnews.net/article/striker_sells_1784_half_disme_reproduction |url-status=live }}</ref>

The Philadelphia Mint produced all large cents, which contained twice the copper of the [[Half cent (United States coin)|half cent]]. This made the coins bulky and heavy, bigger than modern-day [[Quarter (United States coin)|U.S. quarters]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Guide to United States Coinage |publisher=Littleton Coin Company |url=http://www.littletoncoin.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Display%7C10001%7C10001%7C-1%7C%7CLearnNav%7CGuide-to-United-States-Coinage.html |access-date=2011-11-10 }}</ref>

===Flowing Hair cents, chain reverse (1793)===
{{Main article|Chain cent}}
[[File:NNC-US-1793-1C-Flowing Hair Cent (chain).jpg|thumb|350px|A 1793 Flowing Hair chain Cent]]
[[File:1794 1C 'Venus Marina' (S-32) (obv).jpg|thumb|right|200px|A 1794 large cent]]

The obverse featured a bust of [[Liberty (goddess)|Liberty]] with a reverse of a ring of chains. [[Henry Voigt]]'s design was almost universally criticized in its time for its unattractiveness and perceived allusion to slavery. It bears the distinction, however, of being the first official coinage minted by the United States federal government on its own equipment and premises; 36,103 were minted. Its low survival rate, in addition to its small mintage, coupled with being the first regular federal issue and a one-year design and type, has created an extremely strong demand from generations of numismatists. As a result, all surviving specimens command high prices ranging from $2,000–3,000 in the absolute lowest state of preservation to over $500,000 in the highest.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Yeoman |first1=R.S. |last2=Bressett |first2=Kenneth |last3=Garrett |first3=Jeff |last4=Bowers |first4=Q. David |title=A Guide Book of United States Coins |date=2019 |publisher=Whitman Publishing |location=Pelham, Alabama |page=109}}</ref>

===Flowing Hair cents, wreath reverse (1793)===
{{Main article|Wreath cent}}
[[File:1797 cent obv.jpg|thumb|right|200px|A 1797 large cent]]

The Mint caved in to the intense ridicule later in 1793, and Mint Director [[David Rittenhouse]] ordered [[Adam Eckfeldt]] to revise the obverse and reverse designs. Liberty's bust was redesigned with even longer, wilder hair, and the chain was removed from the reverse in favor of a wreath. Scholars are undecided as to what plant or plants are depicted in the wreath, with several varieties extant. Total mintage of the wreath reverse numbered about 63,000 pieces.

===Liberty Cap cents (1793–1796)===
{{Main article|Liberty Cap large cent}}
[[File:1811 cent obv.jpg|thumb|right|200px|An 1811 Classic Head large cent]]

Rittenhouse was dissatisfied with Eckfeldt's designs, and with the criticism of the Chain cents fresh in his mind, he hired [[Joseph Wright (American painter)|Joseph Wright]] to do yet another redesign in the denomination's troubled first year. Wright's design faced Liberty to the right and "tamed" her wild hair. The [[Phrygian cap]] was added as an ancient symbol of freedom. The reverse design was revised to a recognizable laurel wreath, and future Chief Engraver [[Robert Scot]] had a hand in several minor revisions to the design over the next three years.

This design was more successful, and it was continued into 1796. In 1795, [[planchet]]s became too thin for the edge lettering because of a weight reduction, so the mint stopped edge lettering on the cent, and the rest of these coins were made with a plain edge. Four coins from 1795 are known to have a reeded edge.<ref>Yeoman, R. S. ''[[A Guide Book of United States Coins]]'', 2009 edition.</ref>

===Draped Bust cents (1796–1807)===
{{Main article|Draped Bust}}

Robert Scot redesigned the whole of United States coinage for 1796, applying a new design featuring a bust of Liberty wearing a drapery at the neckline and a ribbon in her flowing hair. The reverse design now featured an olive wreath. As with earlier types, several minor revisions to the design were made in the first few years, with the final 1797 design lasting through the end of the type in 1807.

Around 1860, an altered 1803 obverse die (re-engraved "1804") and an 1820 reverse die were used to create several unofficial "restrikes" of the rare 1804 cent. While not genuine 1804 cents, they are sometimes collected along with the originals and are listed in various numismatic magazines and ''[[A Guide Book of United States Coins]]''.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Yeoman |first1=R. S. |last2=Bressett |first2=Kenneth |last3=Garrett |first3=Jeff |last4=Bowers |first4=Q. David |date=2019  |title=A Guide Book of United States Coins 2019 |edition=72nd |publisher=Whitman Publishing |location=Pelham, Alabama |page=114 |isbn=9780794845780}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Bowers |first1=Q. David |title=Bowers on collecting: The rare and popular 1804 large cent |url=https://news.coinupdate.com/bowers-on-collecting-the-rare-and-popular-1804-large-cent/ |publisher=[[Coin Update]] |access-date=6 June 2021}}</ref>

===Classic Head cents (1808–1814)===
{{Main article|Classic Head}}

John Reich, assistant to Chief Engraver Scot, was appointed by new Mint Director [[Robert Patterson (educator)|Robert Patterson]] to redesign Scot's Draped Bust cent (along with every other circulating coin design). The so-called "Classic Head" derives its name from the [[Headgear#Fillets|fillet]] worn by Liberty on the obverse, though the fillet was worn only by male athletes in ancient Greece. The copper used during the years in which Classic Head cents were minted was of a higher quality, containing less metallic impurity. Consequently, they were softer and more prone to wear and corrode more quickly than issues before or after. As a result, unimpaired, high-grade specimens are especially difficult to obtain and fetch strong premiums when they appear on market, especially with original red or red-brown mint luster.
{{Clear}}

===Coronet cents (1815–1857)===
{{Main article|Coronet large cent}}
[[File:1853 Large cent.png|thumb|right|200px|An 1853 Braided Hair cent]]

==== Matron Head, or Middle Dates (1815–1839) ====
As a response to public criticism of the Classic Head, the Mint assigned Chief Engraver Scot to redesign the cent in April 1815, after the [[War of 1812]]. Only 2 Matron Head large cents were produced in 1815 on planchets left over from 1814. This newest design  enlarged the obverse portrait, giving Liberty a much more mature look (leading to the Matron Head reference), and surrounded the portrait with stars along the outer edge of the coin. The "Matron head" design was modified in 1835 to give Liberty a younger look, and matron head cents continued to be made until 1839.

Cents dated 1823 were likely minted in 1824 as there is no record of their production.  However it appears that a relatively large number were made.<ref>[https://www.ngccoin.com/coin-explorer/united-states/cents/coronet-head-cents-1816-1839/813361/1823-n-2-1c-ms/ 1823 N-2 1C MS]</ref> Similar to the 1804 restrike cent, around the 1860s-1870s, several "restrikes" of this date were made by a third party not affiliated with the Mint. While not genuine 1823 cents, they are nevertheless sometimes collected alongside their genuine counterparts. The restrike cannot be confused with the original, as it was minted with an 1813 reverse.<ref>{{cite web |title=CORONET HEAD CENTS 1823 COPPER RESTRIKE 1C MS |url=https://www.ngccoin.com/coin-explorer/coronet-head-cents-1816-1839-pscid-15/1823-copper-restrike-1c-ms-coinid-11633 |publisher=Numismatic Guaranty Corporation |access-date=8 November 2019}}</ref>

{{Anchor|Braided Hair}}
====Braided Hair, or Late Dates (1839–1857; 1868)====
Facing more negative public reaction, the Coronet cents were redesigned in 1835 by new Chief Engraver [[Christian Gobrecht]]. This last major change to the coin updated the obverse by giving Liberty a slimmer, more youthful appearance. Minor tweaks  continued through 1843, and the 1843 design prevailed through the end of mintage in 1857.

Some 11 years after the large cent was discontinued, a mint employee coined several large cents dated 1868, almost certainly for sale as instant rarities to numismatists. About a dozen and a half of these unofficial issues, struck in both copper and nickel, are known to survive.<ref>{{Cite web |title=J611/P676 |url=http://uspatterns.com/j611p676.html |publisher=uspatterns.com |access-date=2019-05-03}}</ref>

==Collecting==
With the plethora of varieties, errors, and die states for these early coins, they are a popular collecting endeavor today. In 1966, Herbert A. Silberman placed an ad in ''[[Coin World]]'' gauging interest in a specialized club devoted to the collecting and researching of large cents and half cents, '''Early American Coppers'''. The group holds an annual convention, publishes a quarterly newsletter, ''Penny-Wise'', and conducts meetings and seminars at most major coin conventions.<ref>{{cite web |title=About EAC |url=https://eacs.org/about-eac/ |website=eacs.org |publisher=Early American Coppers, Inc. |access-date=17 December 2023}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Money|Numismatics|United States}}
* [[Mill (currency)]]
* [[United States cent mintage figures]]
* [[United States dollar]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|United States cents}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20080416193925/http://www.coincommunity.com/us_coin_links/us_cents.asp Complete US Large Cent information by year and type. ] Histories, photos, mintages, mints, diameters, weights, metal contents, edge designs, designers, and more.
*[http://www.coinpage.com/large%20cent-pictures.html Large Cent Pictures]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20110724045509/http://numismatics.org/search/category/usa--federal--large_cent/images Images of Large Cents] at the [[American Numismatic Society]]

{{United States circulating coinage}}
{{Obsolete U.S. currency and coinage}}
{{Coinage (United States)}}
{{Money and central banking within the contemporary United States (pre–1913)}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Large Cent (United States Coin)}}
[[Category:1793 introductions]]
[[Category:One-cent coins of the United States]]
[[Category:Goddess of Liberty on coins]]