Classic American Coins: Large Cents Quiz

Answer: 1815

Interestingly, the mint has records of large cents being made in 1815 but there is no indication that any large cents with that date were made. While 1815 was the year that the War of 1812 ended, it is uncertain if that played any role. Theories suggest that there may have been a shortage of planchets (coin blanks) that year or there was little demand for large cents until late in the year. In either case, the theory goes that mint officials may have thought there was not the need or the time to make any dies dated 1815 and simply used a previous year's die.

It is possible that not many large cents were needed in a particular year. By comparison with 20th century coins, large cents were minted in relatively small numbers. The peak mintage in 1851 was slightly under 10 million and several dates had mintages under one million. The cent had significant purchasing power in the late 1700s and early 1800s.

Answer: Larger than a quarter dollar, smaller than a half dollar

Depending on the exact year, the large cent had a diameter between 26 and 29 millimeters. In some early years, there could be variation within the same year. A Washington quarter dollar has a diameter slightly over 24 millimeters. A Kennedy half dollar has a diameter of 30.6 millimeters. By comparison, a small cent is approximately 19 millimeters in diameter.

Generally speaking, the coin using public wants to avoid a coin that is too small (easier to lose) or too large (inconvenient to carry in the pocket).

Answer: None

The intention was that the large cents would be 100% copper as best as could be done with technology of the time. The addition of any other metal was unintentional and usually well under 1%. Large cents contained over one-third of a ounce of copper. The mint attempted to have the metal content be as close to face value as possible.

One complaint about large cents was that they were large and cumbersome. A 1792 trial piece used a small silver piece with the value of three-quarters of a cent surrounded by one-quarter of a cent of copper to create a somewhat smaller coin. This design was not picked up for general use.

Answer: Liberty Cap obverse, Chain reverse

The Chain reverse only appeared on the Flowing Hair obverse of large cents, which were only made in 1793. The obverse of the coin, with its image of a woman's head with free flowing hair received some criticism from the general public. it was the reverse, however, that bore the brunt of the criticism.

It is believed that the designer, Henry Voight, intended the chain surrounding the denomination of "One Cent" to suggest strength and unity. Members of the public, however, saw the chains as representing slavery and tyranny. Considering that the United States had gained its independence less than two decades before, this was a bad look. A pause in production of large cents allowed for a new design that showed a much less controversial wreath on the reverse. By the end of 1793, the mint had moved to a third design that included a Phrygian cap (ancient symbol of freedom) behind the woman's head.

Answer: Liberty

"Liberty" was found on all issued large cents. In some early, the only text on the obverse of the cent was "liberty" and the coin's date. "In God We Trust" began appearing on some US coins during the Civil War. While "E pluribus unum" (One from many) did appear on some 18th century US coins, it did not become required until 1873.

Most large cents had a reference to the denomination or value although it was sometimes on the rim of the coin rather than the reverse. The reverse also mentioned the country issuing the coin, though some 1793 coins abbreviated it as "United States of Ameri." It was thought that this may have been done to keep the inscription (found near the outer edge of the reverse) balanced, but i my opinion its appearance makes it appear to have been an error (even if it was not).

Answer: Seated Liberty

The US large cents were generally designed with a woman's head as the focus of the obverse. In order, the following designs were used: Draped Bust (1796-1807), Classic Head (1808-1814), and Coronet (1816-1857). The Seated Liberty design (1837-1891) was used with silver coins and featured a woman with a head and body on the obverse.

In the 19th century, US copper coins often had similar designs distinct from the designs of silver coins or gold coins.

Answer: One

All US large cents issued for circulation were minted in Philadelphia. Philadelphia was the location of the only US federal mint before 1838. By law, all coins that were not gold and silver had to be minted in Philadelphia. No large cents include a mint mark (indicating a mint outside of Philadelphia).

The first copper coins were not minted outside of Philadelphia until the 1908 Indian Head cents from Denver and San Francisco.

Answer: Charles Barber

Joseph Wright designed the Liberty Cap Large Cent (1793-1796). Robert Scot designed the obverse of the Draped Bust Large Cent (1796-1807) and Coronet large cent (1816-1857). John Reich designed the Draped Bust large cent (1808-1814).

Charles Barber would be best known for the Barber coinage of dimes, quarter dollars, and half dollars (1892-1916), long after large cents were discontinued.

Answer: 13

Thirteen stars can be found encircling the head on the obverse of the coin. It is generally thought that the number of stars is a reference to the original thirteen states of the United States. Interestingly, the individual stars have six points rather than the five-pointed stars usually found on US flags. Within the Coronet cents, earlier years featured a "matron head" design and lager years featured a "braided hair design".

Answer: Cost of the coin

Over time, the value of the copper in the coin rose above one cent in value. Two preliminary strategies were tried. First there was a attempt to use a mix of copper and silver which includes less than 50% silver to create a smaller coin (if not necessarily a less expensive one). The second attempt was to create a hollow coin that was "ring-shaped" so it would require less copper. Neither attempt was successful.

The successful switch would replace the large cent with a small cent. After an initial issue in 1856, small cents were issued on a large scale in 1857 as large cents were issued in reduced numbers and then largely ended. A tiny number of large cents were minted in 1868, but sold to a handful of private collectors rather than be issued to the public. The US large cent receded into history.