Large Cents & Half Cents (1793–1857)

America's First Coins

Large cents and half cents were among the very first coins struck by the United States Mint, beginning in 1793. These hefty copper coins — large cents roughly the size of a modern half dollar — served as the backbone of everyday commerce for over 60 years.

Half Cents (1793–1857)

The smallest denomination in US coinage history, the half cent went through five major design types:

• Liberty Cap, Head Facing Left (1793) — Only one year. Extremely rare. Mintage of just 35,334.
• Liberty Cap, Head Facing Right (1794–1797) — Redesigned portrait. Scarce across all dates.
• Draped Bust (1800–1808) — More available, though some dates are quite scarce.
• Classic Head (1809–1836) — John Reich's attractive design. Most collectible era for half cents.
• Braided Hair (1840–1857) — Final design. Most surviving examples are in higher grades since many were saved as the denomination was phased out.

Key date: 1796 half cent (with or without pole) — fewer than 2,000 known. A cornerstone rarity.

Large Cents (1793–1857)

Large cents went through even more design changes as the young Mint experimented with dies and technology:

• Chain Cent (1793) — America's first cent. The chain reverse was criticized as resembling slavery. Extremely rare and valuable.
• Wreath Cent (1793) — Quick replacement for the chain design. Also very scarce.
• Liberty Cap (1793–1796) — Larger head design. The 1793 is a major rarity.
• Draped Bust (1796–1807) — Elegant design by Robert Scot. Key date: 1799, with a mintage under 1 million and extremely low survival rate.
• Classic Head (1808–1814) — Bold, attractive design. Short series due to the War of 1812 disrupting copper supplies.
• Coronet/Matron Head (1816–1839) — Long-running series with many die varieties. Popular with variety collectors.
• Braided Hair (1839–1857) — Final large cent design. More available than earlier types. 1857 is the last year and is eagerly collected.

Notable Key Dates

• 1793 Chain Cent — $5,000+ in AG. Six figures in higher grades. The first US cent.
• 1799 Large Cent — The rarest regular-issue large cent. $3,000+ even in low grades.
• 1793 Liberty Cap — $4,000+ in AG. Major first-year rarity.
• 1796 Half Cent (No Pole) — A famous variety. $10,000+ in any grade.
• 1811 Large Cent — Low mintage Classic Head. $500+ in Good.

Collecting Strategies

• Type set — One example of each major design type. Achievable for $2,000–$10,000 depending on grade targets.
• Date set — Extremely challenging and expensive for large cents (the 1799 alone is a barrier). More feasible for Braided Hair half cents.
• Die variety collecting — Large cents are famous for die varieties. The Sheldon variety numbering system was originally created for this series. Specialists use the Newcomb (N-) numbers for Coronet and Braided Hair varieties.
• Grade focus — VG to Fine is the sweet spot for most collectors. AG and Good for key dates.

Why Were They Discontinued?

By the 1850s, the large cent's copper content was worth nearly as much as the coin itself, making production unprofitable. The Mint Act of 1857 authorized the smaller, cheaper Flying Eagle cent and discontinued both the half cent and large cent.

Up Next

The small cent revolution: Indian Head Cents & Flying Eagle Cents.