U.S. Large Cent Coins
(1793 - 1857)
U.S. One-Cent coinage has been a cornerstone of American commerce since the nation’s earliest years, first issued in 1793. The cent has undergone numerous design, size, and composition changes, reflecting evolving economic conditions, metal availability, and artistic trends. From early large copper cents to today’s small Lincoln cents, the one-cent piece tells a continuous story of American history, making it one of the most collected and studied denominations in U.S. numismatics.
Check out every series of U.S. Large Cent Coins below, complete with dates & mintages for each.
Flowing Hair Large Cent
(1793 - 1796)
The Flowing Hair Large Cent was the first official one-cent coin struck by the United States Mint, produced in 1793 only. This inaugural design features Liberty with long, unbound hair on the obverse and a simple wreath surrounding the denomination on the reverse. Several distinct varieties were created during its short production run, including the Chain Reverse and the Wreath Reverse, each highly collectible today. Because it represents the very beginning of federal cent coinage, the 1793 Flowing Hair Large Cent is both historically significant and strongly sought after in all grades.
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Business Strikes
Type 1, Chain Cent
1793 Chain | 36,103
Type 2, Wreath Cent
1793 Wreath | 63,353
Type 3, Liberty Cap, Beaded Border
1793 | 11,056
Type 4, Liberty Cap, Denticle Border
1794 | 918,521
1795 Lettered Edge | 37,000
1795 Reeded Edge | NA
1796 | 109,825
Draped Bust Large Cent
(1796 - 1807)
The Draped Bust Large Cent replaced the earlier Flowing Hair design in 1796 and remained in production through 1807. This type features a more elegant portrait of Liberty with flowing hair and drapery at the neckline, paired with either the Small Date/Small Letters style of the late 1790s or the later Heraldic Eagle reverse introduced in 1798. Mintages throughout the series were generally modest, and many dates are difficult to locate in high grades due to heavy circulation and the soft copper planchets of the era. Collectors often note 1799 as one of the key dates in the series, making the Draped Bust Large Cent an important and challenging early U.S. type.
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Business Strikes
1796 | 363,375
1797 | 897,510
1798 | 1,841,745
1799 | NA
1800 | 2,822,175
1801 | 1,362,837
1802 | 3,435,100
1803 | 3,131,691
1804 | 96,500
1805 | 941,116
1806 | 348,000
1807 | 829,221
Classic Head Large Cent
(1808 - 1814)
The Classic Head Large Cent was introduced in 1808, ushering in a refreshed portrait of Liberty designed by John Reich. This design presents Liberty with a more stylized, youthful appearance and a headband inscribed with “LIBERTY,” marking a clear departure from the earlier Draped Bust style. The series was produced from 1808 through 1814, though mintages were relatively low in several years. Many surviving examples show heavy wear or surface issues due to the quality of copper used at the time, making high-grade pieces especially desirable. Key dates such as 1809 and 1811 are particularly sought after by collectors assembling early large cent sets.
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Business Strikes
1808 | 1,007,000
1809 | 222,867
1810 | 1,458,500
1811 | 218,025
1812 | 1,075,500
1813 | 418,000
1814 | 357,830
Coronet Head Large Cent
(1816 - 1839)
The Coronet Head Large Cent debuted in 1816, marking the return of cent production after a brief suspension during the War of 1812 era. Designed by Robert Scot and later modified by other engravers, this type features Liberty wearing a coronet inscribed with “LIBERTY,” giving the series its commonly used name. The design remained in use through 1857, making it one of the longest-running large cent types. Over time, subtle design adjustments created collectible subtypes, including the Matron Head (1816–1839) and the later Braided Hair style (1839–1857). Certain dates, such as 1823, 1827, and 1857, are particularly desirable, and the 1857 issue represents the final year of large cent production before the smaller Flying Eagle cent was introduced.
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Business Strikes
1816 | 2,820,982
1817 | 3,948,400
1818 | 3,167,000
1819 | 2,671,000
1820 | 4,407,550
1821 | 389,000
1822 | 2,072,339
1823 | NA
1824 | 1,262,000
1825 | 1,461,100
1826 | 1,517,425
1827 | 2,357,732
1828 | 2,260,624
1829 | 1,414,500
1830 | 1,711,500
1831 | 3,359,260
1832 | 2,362,000
1833 | 2,739,000
1834 | 1,855,100
1835 | 3,878,400
1836 | 2,111,000
1837 | 5,558,300
1838 | 6,370,200
1839 | 3,128,661
Braided Hair Large Cent
(1839 - 1857)
The Braided Hair Large Cent was introduced in 1839 as a refinement of the earlier Coronet design and represents the final major style of the large cent series. Liberty is depicted with her hair intricately braided and tied in a bun, reflecting the more polished engraving standards of the mid-19th century. This subtype was struck from 1839 through 1857 and includes both early transitional issues and later dates with higher mintages as copper coin production increased. While many examples are obtainable in circulated grades, certain varieties and high-grade pieces remain challenging. The 1857 issue marks the end of large cent coinage, as the denomination was replaced later that year by the smaller Flying Eagle cent.
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Business Strikes
1839 | 200,000
1840 | 2,462,700
1841 | 1,597,367
1842 | 2,383,390
1843 | 2,425,342
1844 | 2,398,752
1845 | 3,894,804
1846 | 4,120,800
1847 | 6,183,669
1848 | 6,415,799
1849 | 4,178,500
1850 | 4,426,844
1851 | 9,889,707
1852 | 5,063,094
1853 | 6,641,131
1854 | 4,236,156
1855 | 1,574,829
1856 | 2,690,463
1857 | 333,456
If You Collect Large Cent Coins, Check Out The ‘Pre '99 Major Circulation Designs’ Type Set!
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