Large Cents are the same denomination as our contemporary pennies but when they were first introduced, this name was as foreign as the new coin itself. Among the first coins produced by the United States Mint, the Large Cent had a face value of 1/100th of a dollar, as specified by Congress.
Unlike contemporary pennies, these large single-cent coins were almost the size of a modern half-dollar. Though these coins were introduced in 1793, production on these everyday coins continued through the mid-19th century!
Every year from 1793 to 1857, with the exception of 1815, the U.S. Mint struck large quantities of Large Cent coins.
The lack of a Large Cent from 1815 is largely due to the War of 1812. A wartime embargo prevented blank copper planchets from being shipped to the United States. Though the mint had a good supply of planchets on-hand at the outset of war, they ran out completely by the time they needed to begin striking the 1815 edition.
Fortunately, the war with Great Britain ended in 1816, allowing the mint to immediately obtain the copper blanks to create Large Cents. Another interesting detail about the Large Cent is they were produced only at the Philadelphia Mint facility.
LARGE CENT DESIGN HISTORY
IMPORTANCE OF THE LARGE CENT IN HISTORY
Despite the redesign of the 1793 Large Cent, Mint Director David Rittenhouse hired Joseph Wright to completely overhaul the coin’s artwork for the 1794 release. Wright’s design also featured Lady Liberty on the obverse, but he tidied her hair somewhat and added a Phrygian cap, a historic symbol of freedom.
The coin’s reverse maintained a wreath design, but the wreath on the 1794 edition is easily identifiable as a laurel wreath.
Generally accepted by the public, the design unveiled in 1794 continued in production for three years before being replaced by the Draped Bust design. In 1796, Robert Scot completely redesigned United States coinage, including the Large Cent.
The new obverse bore an image of a right-facing Lady Liberty, but she was finer looking, with a ribbon in her hair and a draped garment around her décolletage. Rather than the laurel wreath, the 1796 edition featured an olive wreath.
This artwork gained even greater acceptance from the public and was maintained until 1808. At that time, Robert Scot’s assistant engraver John Reich was appointed to redesign Scot’s Draped Bust design. The new style of Large Cent has come to be known as the Classic Head design. It featured a left-facing Lady Liberty wearing ornate headgear reminiscent of a crown. This headgear, most properly called a fillet, is said to resemble the ornament given to top athletes in Ancient Greece.
However, the copper used in the production of these coins was of a higher quality than any used before, resulting in coins that were softer and more vulnerable to the wear and tear of circulation.
In 1816, Chief Engraver Scot was forced to redesign the coin yet again. This time, the artwork depicted Lady Liberty as a more mature woman, which is why this design is colloquially called the Matron Head design.
In some numismatic circles, this particular Large Cent design is known as a Coronet Cent. These coins were minted until 1839. In 1835, Christian Gobrecht was made the new chief engraver of the U.S. Mint and was tasked with redesigning the Large Cent for the last time. Gobrecht gave Lady Liberty a younger, more vital look and her hair was put into a stylish braid.
This was the last design change to Large Cent went through, which continued through 1857. Obviously, there are many different possibilities when it comes to collecting the Large Cent. Because the coin was in production for nearly 100 years, one would think that many have survived to today, but that is unfortunately not so.
These coins, especially the oldest of them, are difficult to find and rarely survive in pristine condition.
 VALUE OF THE LARGE CENT
Large Cent Coin Values
| DATE | GOOD | FINE | EXTREMELY FINE | UNCIRCULATED |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1793 Liberty Cap | $6,000 | $17,500 | $100,000 | N/A |
| 1794 Liberty Cap | $370 | $800 | $4,000 | N/A |
| 1795 Liberty Cap | $350 | $1,000 | $5,250 | N/A |
| 1796 Liberty Cap | $400 | $1,200 | $5,500 | N/A |
| 1796 Draped Bust | $250 | $900 | $6,250 | N/A |
| 1797 Draped Bust | $140 | $425 | $3,500 | N/A |
| 1798 Draped Bust | $135 | $550 | $7,500 | N/A |
| 1799 Draped Bust | $4,000 | $13,500 | $100,000 | N/A |
| 1800 Draped Bust | $75 | $265 | $3,850 | N/A |
| 1801 Draped Bust | $85 | $225 | $1,250 | N/A |
| 1802 Draped Bust | $65 | $225 | $1,400 | N/A |
| 1803 Draped Bust | $65 | $200 | $1,000 | N/A |
| 1804 Draped Bust | $1,200 | $4,500 | $20,000 | N/A |
| 1805 Draped Bust | $75 | $225 | $1,200 | N/A |
| 1806 Draped Bust | $70 | $225 | $2,000 | N/A |
| 1807 Draped Bust | $75 | $225 | $1,250 | N/A |
| 1808 Classic | $100 | $375 | $2,500 | N/A |
| 1809 Classic | $120 | $600 | $4,000 | N/A |
| 1810 Classic | $80 | $325 | $1,700 | N/A |
| 1811 Classic | $100 | $400 | $2,200 | N/A |
| 1812 Classic | $100 | $375 | $1,600 | N/A |
| 1813 Classic | $80 | $325 | $1,750 | N/A |
| 1814 Classic | $80 | $325 | $1,600 | N/A |
| 1816 Liberty Head | $25 | $50 | $190 | $300 |
| 1817 Liberty Head | $30 | $55 | $150 | $250 |
| 1818 Liberty Head | $30 | $45 | $135 | $225 |
| 1819 Liberty Head | $30 | $45 | $150 | $300 |
| 1820 Liberty Head | $25 | $45 | $175 | $250 |
| 1821 Liberty Head | $45 | $135 | $1,300 | $2,300 |
| 1822 Liberty Head | $30 | $45 | $425 | $700 |
| 1824 Liberty Head | $85 | $325 | $2,200 | $4,500 |
| 1825 Liberty Head | $20 | $40 | $325 | $650 |
| 1826 Liberty Head | $25 | $100 | $975 | $1,500 |
| 1827 Liberty Head | $20 | $40 | $225 | $425 |
| 1828 Liberty Head | $20 | $35 | $210 | $400 |
| 1829 Liberty Head | $20 | $35 | $200 | $385 |
| 1830 Liberty Head | $20 | $35 | $190 | $300 |
| 1831 Liberty Head | $20 | $30 | $150 | $250 |
| 1832 Liberty Head | $20 | $30 | $150 | $250 |
| 1833 Liberty Head | $20 | $30 | $150 | $250 |
| 1834 Liberty Head | $20 | $75 | $550 | $1,200 |
| 1835 Liberty Head | $20 | $35 | $225 | $400 |
| 1836 Liberty Head | $20 | $35 | $125 | $250 |
| 1837 Liberty Head | $20 | $35 | $125 | $250 |
| 1838 Liberty Head | $20 | $35 | $120 | $225 |
| 1839 Liberty Head | $20 | $30 | $110 | $265 |
| 1840 Liberty Head | $20 | $30 | $85 | $200 |
| 1841 Liberty Head | $20 | $35 | $125 | $250 |
| 1842 Liberty Head | $20 | $30 | $90 | $220 |
| 1843 Liberty Head | $20 | $30 | $85 | $160 |
| 1844 Liberty Head | $20 | $30 | $85 | $160 |
| 1845 Liberty Head | $20 | $30 | $75 | $135 |
| 1846 Liberty Head | $20 | $30 | $75 | $135 |
| 1847 Liberty Head | $20 | $30 | $75 | $135 |
| 1848 Liberty Head | $20 | $30 | $75 | $130 |
| 1849 Liberty Head | $20 | $30 | $85 | $150 |
| 1850 Liberty Head | $20 | $30 | $65 | $125 |
| 1851 Liberty Head | $20 | $30 | $65 | $125 |
| 1852 Liberty Head | $20 | $30 | $65 | $125 |
| 1853 Liberty Head | $20 | $30 | $65 | $125 |
| 1854 Liberty Head | $20 | $30 | $65 | $125 |
| 1855 Liberty Head | $20 | $30 | $65 | $125 |
| 1856 Liberty Head | $20 | $30 | $65 | $130 |
| 1857 Liberty Head | $60 | $100 | $200 | $300 |
