All Guide To Cent Values Articles

The design of the 1859 Indian Head Cent was simple, and elegant yet had an air of European sophistication. Longacre said he was inspired by the face of the “Crouching Venus” statue which was being exhibited in Philadelphia at the time.

In 1854, the Large Cent had been minted for more than 50 years, and the U.S. Mint was seeking a new design and a new coin. Chief Mint Engraver James B. Longacre went about designing a radically different coin. Longacre would become a prolific coin designer and engraver.

On May 8, 1792, an act to provide for American Copper coinage was signed by George Washington. Chief Engraver Henry Voigt went to work on the Flowing Hair Large cent, featuring an allegorical depiction of Miss Liberty, facing right, with hair flowing straight back.

Robert Scot created what has been called the “Draped Bust” design. Modeled after a sketch by Gilbert Stuart, Miss Liberty faces right. A ribbon holds her hair back and a draped gown is at her shoulders.

Discover more about the history, mintages and value of the Draped Bust Half Cent, dating from 1800 to 1808, with APMEX today!

Just over 1 million 1808-dated Large Cents were produced bearing Reich’s new design. But the Mint soon ran out of blank planchets and 222,867 cents were struck in 1809. An adequate supply of copper planchets in 1810 allowed the Mint to again strike over 1 million coins (1,458,500) and there were two varieties of 1810 dated coins – a normal date and an overdate of 1810/09.

After he was appointed Mint Assistant Engraver, John Reich redesigned the Half Dollar, Gold Half Eagle, Cent, Gold Quarter Eagle, Dime and finally, the Half-Cent. Reich created a new face for Miss Liberty. She seemed older and less showy, her curls held back on her head by a band prominently inscribed with the word “LIBERTY.”

The final phase of the Large Cent took place in 1839 with the Braided Hair Large Cent. Christian Gobrecht, Chief Engraver at the U.S. Mint, was determined to craft a coin that the public would admire. He captured a European-influenced style with braided hair, soft features, and a coronet that he was sure the public would love.

Gobrecht redesigned the 1839 Large Cent and used that style for the 1840 Braided Hair Half Cent. He radically changed John Reich’s matronly Miss Liberty and gave her a younger, slimmer, more youthful style.