Large Cent Coin
(1793 – 1857)

Among the earliest coins struck by the United States Mint, the Large Cent was authorized in 1792 and first minted in 1793.

These coins carried a face value of 1/100th of a dollar and were approximately the size of a modern-day half dollar. The term “Large Cent” was not immediately adopted by the public but came to be used to distinguish these coins from their smaller successors.

The first design of the Large Cent, known as the Chain Cent, featured a right-facing Lady Liberty with wind-blown hair by Henry Voigt. The reverse showed a ring of interlocking chains symbolizing unity among the states.

However, many viewed the chains as a negative symbol, associating them with slavery. This caused public outcry, leading to a redesign featuring a wreath on the reverse.

This Wreath Cent was more favorably received, marking the beginning of many subsequent changes to the coin’s design.

Large Cent Design Evolution

• 1793 (Chain and Wreath) – Designed by Henry Voigt. Controversial chain reverse replaced within the same year.

• 1794–1796 (Liberty Cap) – Joseph Wright redesigned Liberty with flowing hair and a Phrygian cap, symbolizing freedom.

• 1796–1807 (Draped Bust) – Robert Scot gave Liberty a more mature look and redesigned the reverse with an olive wreath.

• 1808–1835 (Classic Head) – John Reich introduced a more youthful Liberty with a Greco-Roman look.

• 1835–1857 (Braided Hair) – Christian Gobrecht gave Liberty a refined, braided appearance that lasted until the series ended.

Large Cents were produced every year from 1793 through 1857, except 1815. During the War of 1812, the U.S. was under embargo and unable to receive copper planchets from England. By the time 1815 arrived, the mint had run out of stockpiles and skipped the year entirely.

Interestingly, every Large Cent was produced exclusively by the Philadelphia Mint. No other mint facility ever struck Large Cents.

Valuation Chart

The value of a Large Cent varies dramatically based on year, condition, and rarity. Below is a valuation chart showing average prices for specimens in Good (G-4), Fine (F-12), and Extremely Fine (EF-40) condition. Prices reflect market estimates as of 2025.

Key Dates and Notable Varieties

Historical Context Year-By-Year

• 1793: First year of U.S. Large Cent, with three designs: Chain, Wreath, and Liberty Cap. – The Louvre Museum opens to the public in Paris.

• 1794: Liberty Cap design refined with slightly altered bust. – Eli Whitney invents the cotton gin, revolutionizing agriculture.

• 1795: Liberty Cap design continues; slight modifications to the portrait. – Napoleon begins his rise to power in France.

• 1796: Continued Liberty Cap cents; low mintage. – Tennessee becomes the 16th U.S. state.

• 1797: Large Cents struck with multiple varieties; final year for Liberty Cap. – John Adams becomes the second U.S. President.

• 1798: Draped Bust design introduced. – The U.S. establishes the Marine Corps for the second time.

• 1799: Continued Draped Bust; scarce date. – George Washington dies at Mount Vernon.

• 1800: Steady production of Draped Bust design. – The U.S. capital officially moves to Washington, D.C.

• 1801: Coinage continues; minor design details updated. – Thomas Jefferson becomes the 3rd U.S. President.

• 1802: Moderate mintage year for Draped Bust cents. – West Point Military Academy is established.

• 1803: High mintage Draped Bust cents struck. – The Louisiana Purchase doubles U.S. territory.

• 1804: Continued production with minor design variations. – Lewis and Clark begin their westward expedition.

• 1805: Draped Bust cent still in use; moderate mintage. – The Battle of Trafalgar secures British naval dominance.

• 1806: Final year of Draped Bust design. – Explorer Zebulon Pike sets out to find the Mississippi’s source.

• 1807: Classic Head design introduced by John Reich. – The U.S. bans the importation of enslaved people.

• 1808: Continued Classic Head with weak strikes typical. – Beethoven composes his Fifth Symphony.

• 1809: Mint quality improves slightly; Classic Head continues. – Abraham Lincoln is born in Kentucky.

• 1810: Steady production with design flaws. – The U.S. population reaches 7.2 million.

• 1811: Final year of Classic Head for a while; war tensions grow. – The Battle of Tippecanoe occurs in Indiana Territory.

• 1812: No cents minted due to the War of 1812. – U.S. declares war on Great Britain.

• 1813: No coinage; copper shortages persist. – Jane Austen publishes Pride and Prejudice.

• 1814: No large cents struck. – The British burn Washington, D.C. during the War of 1812.

• 1815: No cents dated 1815 due to a copper shortage (the only year without any U.S. cent). – Napoleon is defeated at Waterloo.

• 1816: Matron Head (Coronet) design introduced. – Indiana becomes the 19th state.

• 1817: Improved minting quality; Matron Head continues. – The Mississippi River steamboat industry begins to boom.

• 1818: Coinage continues steadily. – Illinois becomes the 21st U.S. state.

• 1819: Steady minting; multiple varieties exist. – The U.S. acquires Florida from Spain via the Adams-Onís Treaty.

• 1820: High mintage year with multiple varieties. – Missouri Compromise is passed to balance slave/free states.

• 1821: Continued Matron Head design. – Mexico gains independence from Spain.

• 1822: Production continues; few high-grade survivors. – Liberia is founded by freed American slaves.

• 1823: Low mintage; coins dated 1823/2 due to overdated dies. – Monroe Doctrine is announced to limit European interference.

• 1824: Continued use of overdated dies. – John Quincy Adams wins a contested presidential election.

• 1825: Normal production resumes. – The Erie Canal opens, linking the Great Lakes to the Atlantic.

• 1826: Mint continues Matron Head; average mintage. – Thomas Jefferson and John Adams both die on July 4th.

• 1827: Mintage slightly reduced; still widespread circulation. – Beethoven dies in Vienna.

• 1828: Slight modifications made to Liberty’s head. – Andrew Jackson is elected President.

• 1829: Coinage continues; minor design changes. – The first modern typewriter is invented.

• 1830: Steady mintage; Matron Head continues. – Indian Removal Act is signed into law.

• 1831: Regular production; quality varies. – Nat Turner’s Rebellion intensifies the slavery debate.

• 1832: Coinage continues; mint introduces new presses. – Charles Darwin begins his journey on the HMS Beagle.

• 1833: Matron Head design persists; declining demand. – Anti-slavery societies gain momentum in the North.

• 1834: Mint quality improves; reengraved dies used. – The British Empire abolishes slavery in its colonies.

• 1835: Large cent production increases. – The U.S. Mint establishes branches in Charlotte, Dahlonega, and New Orleans.

• 1836: Slight design refinements; consistent minting. – The Battle of the Alamo occurs in Texas.

• 1837: Mint introduces steam-powered presses. – Financial Panic of 1837 sparks a major depression.

• 1838: Braided Hair design introduced by Christian Gobrecht. – Trail of Tears forces Cherokee westward.

• 1839: Braided Hair design continues with minor changes. – Daguerreotype photography is introduced in France.

• 1840: Regular minting; strong strikes. – Queen Victoria marries Prince Albert.

• 1841: Continued Braided Hair cent; stable production. – President William Henry Harrison dies one month into office.

• 1842: Lower mintage; economy slows. – Charles Dickens publishes Barnaby Rudge.

• 1843: Minting increases slightly. – Oregon Trail migration grows significantly.

• 1844: Large Cents produced with consistent quality. – First telegraph line connects Washington and Baltimore.

• 1845: Continued Braided Hair design. – Texas is annexed into the United States.

• 1846: Minting continues at high levels. – U.S. declares war on Mexico.

• 1847: Strong mintage and quality. – First U.S. postage stamp issued (Benjamin Franklin).

• 1848: California Gold Rush begins, but large cent production continues. – Gold discovered at Sutter’s Mill.

• 1849: High mintage year. – The first women’s rights convention held in Seneca Falls.

• 1850: Braided Hair cent remains unchanged. – California becomes the 31st state.

• 1851: Mintage remains strong. – The Great Exhibition opens in London.

• 1852: U.S. mint continues large cent production. – Harriet Beecher Stowe publishes Uncle Tom’s Cabin.

• 1853: Braided Hair design continues; less demand due to small cents. – U.S. completes the Gadsden Purchase.

• 1854: Mintage starts to drop; copper prices increase. – Kansas-Nebraska Act increases tensions over slavery.

• 1855: Lower demand; coins becoming obsolete. – Walt Whitman publishes Leaves of Grass.

• 1856: Final year of significant production; Flying Eagle small cent patterns tested. – Bleeding Kansas violence escalates.

• 1857: Last year of U.S. Large Cent; discontinued by Coinage Act of 1857 in favor of small cents. – Panic of 1857 causes major economic turmoil.

Final Thoughts

Large Cents offer a tangible and fascinating piece of early American history. Minted from 1793 to 1857, they span the formative decades of the United States, telling a story through their evolving designs, metallurgy, and minting techniques.

These coins aren’t just collectibles—they’re artifacts, each one with a connection to the hands, pockets, and times of the early Republic.

Their age, beauty, and evolution through more than six decades make them a cornerstone of any U.S. coin collection. Even well-circulated or low-grade examples still command interest and value due to their historical weight and scarcity, especially from early years.

For new collectors, they represent an accessible entry point into 18th and 19th-century numismatics. For seasoned numismatists, they offer depth, with endless variety in die pairings, errors, and condition rarities.

Owning a Large Cent—especially one over 200 years old—is a rewarding and grounding pursuit, connecting you to a past that predates the Civil War, the telegraph, and even the light bulb. As with any collectible, authentication is key. Professional grading not only confirms a coin’s authenticity and condition but also helps preserve and protect your investment—especially when dealing with rare dates like the 1793 Chain Cent or elusive varieties within the Classic and Braided Hair series.