Flying Eagle Cent (1856-1858)
Flying Eagle Cent (1856-1858) The large cent design produced since 1793 was not only unpopular, it was also expensive to produce. This was known since the early 1850s, but the last large cent coin with Braided Hair design lasted until 1857. But a replacement, the Flying Eagle cent, was already created in 1856, designed by […]
Braided Hair Cents
Braided Hair Cents The public wasn’t always so kind to the large cent design. Criticism has been hurled its way since it first appeared in 1793 to last design in the series, the Braided Hair Cent. It was criticism that prompted another redesign of the large cent – the last – and this time Chief […]
Coronet Cents (1816-1839)
Coronet Cents (1816-1839) The Coronet Cents are the type of cent issued from 1816 to 1839 by the Philadelphia Mint. Its design, the Coronet Large Cent, was sometimes nicknamed Matron Head. This was one of two similar designs that went through several variations. By 1839, the profile of Liberty herself was altered. For each of […]
Classic Head Cents (1808-1814)
Classic Head Cents (1808-1814) The design of the Classic Head Cents appeared in 1808, the 5th redesign in just 15 years of production. The design known as the Classic Head Cent was based on the design of previous large cents but the resemblance is almost negligible. The same design was introduced for the half cent […]
Draped Bust Cents
Draped Bust Cents (1796-1807) During the early days of the American coinage, the one cent denomination went through a series of design changes. In a span of 5 years, four different designs were created. It was only when the Draped Bust design was introduced in 1796 that the design reached a measure of satisfaction and […]
The Early Quarters: The Draped and Capped Bust
The Early Quarters: The Draped and Capped Bust The year is 1791 and US Congress has just passed a joint resolution calling for the creation of a national mint. A year later, its establishment was authorized by the Coinage Act of 1792. It took two years before coins were struck, with the Flowing Hair dollar […]
Draped Bust and Capped Bust Dime
Draped Bust and Capped Bust Dime The dime may be an essential part of the U.S. decimal coinage system but it was one of the last coins that were issued by the U.S. Mint when the first operations began. This is why, by the time the Draped Bust made its debut, copper cents and half […]
Twenty Cent Piece
Twenty Cent Piece The US twenty cent piece was struck for only three years, from 1875 to 1878. The release of the coin was cause for much confusion as it closely resembled a quarter. As such, there was little demand for the coin which led to it being abolished in 1878. History of the Twenty […]
Early Half Dimes
Early Half Dimes Also referred to as half disme, Early Half Dimes are five cent U.S. coins made of silver. They were first made in 1792, a year earlier than when the first United States Mint opened for business. Still, there were considered official coins of the country. Early Half Dimes were rumored to be […]