Large Cents were the first coins made for circulation that were authorized by the U.S. government. Large Cents were issued from 1793 to 1857 and quite a few different designs or ‘types’ were used.
1793 saw three different types – ‘Chain’ Cents, then ‘Wreath’ Cents and finally ‘Liberty Cap’ Cents. Liberty Cap Cents were made until 1796. From 1796 to 1807 Draped Bust Large Cents were issued and Classic Head Cents were made from 1808 to 1814.
Coronet Heads were made from 1816 to 1839 and finally Braided Hair Large Cents were issued from 1839 till the end of the series in 1857. Large Cents have been wildly popular with collectors ever since numismatists started collecting American coins.
VF Details, Corroded, Repaired. S-6
Wreath, Vine and Bars. Solid detail for the grade with warm brown surfaces, a strong date, and a pleasing overall appearance.
S-23. R-4+. A scarce and popular variety with a dramatic die break running parallel to the pole on the obverse. This example has attractive light brown surfaces and the typical weakness at the center of the reverse as struck.
S-197. The 'Q' variety. A die break thru the first 0 in the date gives it the appearance of the letter Q. This is a pleasing example with solid detail and problem-free surfaces.
Small Date, Large Fraction.
Small Date, Large Fraction. Sharp detail with attractive and problem-free mahogany brown surfaces.
CAC. Restrike. Struck from rusted, discarded Mint dies. The obverse is from an altered 1803 die while the reverse is an 1820 die. This is a beautiful glossy chestnut-brown example with no noteworthy marks or spots.
S-266. Late die state with a cud over RTY on the obverse and MERIC on the reverse. Well detailed with medium brown surfaces that are choice and devoid of the various issues that often plague this rare date.
Comet. So named because of a mint produced flaw in the left obverse field. Well detailed with medium brown surfaces.
Large 7. Nearly mint state with rich luster. Surfaces are glossy medium brown and exhibit sharp detail.
CAC. A beautiful early cent with lustrous chocolate brown surfaces and traces of original mint red. The surfaces are extremely attractive with no significant abrasions and very strong eye appeal.
S-281. Well detailed with attractive medium brown surfaces. The overdate is very obvious.
Solid detail with pleasing surfaces.
Large Date.
Crosslet 4. S-294.
Plain 4. Sharp detail with glossy mahogany brown surfaces.
13 Stars.
Large Date. Sharply struck with lustrous golden-brown surfaces.
N-2. The second rarest middle-date after the 1823 with a mintage of just 389,000. This is an attractive example with glossy chestnut brown surfaces with an olive-green hue. NGC has graded just 6 coins mint state.
Strong detail and attractive medium brown surfaces. One of the middle-date Large Cent 'keys'.