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Braided Hair, or Late Dates (1839–1857)
Facing more negative public reaction, the Coronet cents were redesigned in 1835 by new Chief Engraver Christian Gobrecht. This last major change to the coin updated the obverse by giving Liberty a slimmer, more youthful appearance. Minor tweaks continued through 1843, and the 1843 design prevailed through the end of mintage in 1857. Some 11 years after the large cent was discontinued, a mint employee coined several large cents dated 1868, almost certainly for sale as instant rarities to numismatists. Fewer than a dozen of these unofficial issues, struck in both bronze and copper-nickel, are known to survive.
Large cent (United States coin)
The United States large cent was a coin with a face value of 1/100 of a United States dollar. Its diameter varied between 27mm and 29mm. The first official mintage of the large cent was in 1793, and its production continued until 1857, when it was officially replaced by the modern-size one-cent coin (commonly called the penny).
Large cents were made of nearly pure copper, or copper as pure as it emerged from smelting, without any deliberate addition of other metals (such as occurs in bronze).
General history
First struck in 1793, the large cent was coined every year from 1793 to 1857 (with the exception of 1815, due to a shortage of copper).[1] The Philadelphia Mint produced all large cents, which contained twice the copper of the half cent. This made the coins bulky and heavy, bigger than modern-day U.S. Quarters.
Flowing Hair cents, chain reverse (1793)
Flowing Hair cents, wreath reverse (1793)Liberty Cap cents (1793–1797)
Draped Bust cents (1796–1808)
Classic Head cents (1808–1814)
Coronet cents (1816–1857)
Matron Head, or Middle Dates (1816–1839)
Braided Hair, or Late Dates (1839–1857)
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US 1852 Large Cent ( 1C )
Obverse
Reverse