Rare U. S. Coins

Introduction

The half cent was among the first coin strikes authorized by the U.S. Congress on April 2, 1792. Designed by Adam Eckfeldt and first released in 1793, it was minted at the Philadelphia Mint periodically until 1857. Its metal composition was of copper and weighed of 6.74 grams. It is the smallest-denomination coin ever minted in the United States. Its small buying power and large size 22mm, led to its unpopularity at that time in history. Production of the Half Cent discontinued production on February 21, 1857.

Though it may appear strange nowadays, the U.S. government once issued a coin worth less than one cent: the half cent. The copper Half Cent started in production on April 2, 1792. During its 64-years in circulation the Government stuck five basic design types of the tiny (0.93-in) coin. The Philadelphia Mint was the choice of location for stricking the first batch of Half Cent coins. A mint Mark was not forged on the coins. The Half Cent's designers and engravers are amongst the most renowned in U.S. Mint history: Adam Eckfeldt, Robert Scot, John Gardner, Gilbert Stuart, John Reich and Christian Gobrecht. Designs for the Half Cent were also translated for use other coin denominations throughout the years. Below is a brief summary of the Half Cent coinage designs.

Liberty Cap

The 1793 Liberty Cap was the first half cent struck and as a result, is a highly coveted coin for today's coin collectors. The obverse design, is believed to be based on sketches made by Mint Director David Rittenhouse, although it is not known for certain who actually finalized the design and the dies for the first Half Cents strick. The obverse features a portrait of “Liberty” facing left. Her hair is flowing behind her, and ascending from the back of her head is a pole that supports a liberty cap. The reverse features a laurel wreath of leaves and berries which circle the value, “HALF CENT”. In 1794 the “Liberty Cap” half cent saw its first design change after only one year of circulation. This design, “Liberty” is facing to the right. While there were many different forms of this design type, the most famed change, other than the direction of “Liberty”, is that she now is wearing her liberty cap. There are varieties which do place the cap held upright by a pole. The reverse remained the same as the previous designs, with a wreath circling the value, “HALF CENT”.

Draped Burst

Starting in 1800, the Half Cents design changed with the introduction of the "Draped Bust" form. The obverse featured a larger version of “Liberty” facing right. The reverse was graced with the existing wreath already in use. The laurel wreath is a close copy of that seen on 1797 Cents. It displays 16 leaves on the left branch and 19 on the right. “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” surrounds the border and the value “HALF CENT” is centered on the coin with the fraction, 1/200 at the coin's lower edge.

Braided Hair

The last design variety in the “Half Cent” series is the “Braided Hair”. The designer, Christian Gobrecht, used the same Braided Hair conception he used on the cent of 1839. A bust of “Liberty”, facing left, graces the obverse. Her hair is braided into a bun. She wears a tiara inscribed with the word "liberty". The reverse side was a re-introduction of that used on the 1809 rendition. The denomination, “HALF CENT”, is bordered by a wreath, tied at the bottom with a bow, and circled by the legend “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA”.

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written by sean \\ tags: bt, buy, cents, circulation, coin, coins, congress, copper, denomination, laurels, mint, obverse, philadelphia, reich, small, strikes, us, value, wreath

I just found today a penny minted in 1946, with the wheat around it and a 's' below the date. Abraham Lincoln on the dated side and ' One Cent ' on the other with the wheat circling. Any idea on what it might be worth ? Not a coin collector myself, but this seems pretty cool.

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written by sean \\ tags: abrahamcollector, cents, coin, coins, lincoln, mint, pennies, wheat

I found this penny at school and it's different. It's not the usual bronze color this one is silver and it still has Abraham Lincoln on the front but on the back it has "One Cent, United States Currency" Instead of the Lincoln Memorial. Is this worth anything??

written by sean \\ tags: abraham bronze color, cents, coin, coins, lincoln, lincoln united states currency, memorial, pennies, silver

The Kennedy 50 cent piece has a bright, shiny dot in the matte finish area of the neck on the profile side, pretty much in the dead center. I would say its 1-2 millimeters in diameter. I compared it to other proof sets and they do not have the spot.

written by sean \\ tags: 50 cent, cents, coin, coins, diameter, matte finish, millimeters, Proof Sets, rare

Their is two different coin collecting books, one for the Lincoln Cent and the other for the Lincoln Memorial Cent. They both have over lapping years to this date. Does anyone know the difference between the two pennies?

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written by sean \\ tags: cents, coin, coins, collecting books, lincoln, memorial, two pennies

The Small Cent has existed since 1856. The Flying Eagle was the first Small Cent, released in 1856. The Flying Eagle had a short production period, because it was reported as a difficult design to strike. to strike. The Flying Eagle coin was discontinued in 1858.

The Indian Head Small Cent was the next issue. Its design featured a closed laurel wreath on the reverse in 1859 and included the shield on the reverse above the open oak wreath between the years 1860 and 1909.

The Small Cent started to resemble the contemporary pennies during 1864 when the composition was changed to 95 percent copper, five percent tin and zinc and a weight reduction.

The Indian Head Small Cent design was a popular coin of the day, but in 1909 the design was replaced with a bust of Abraham Lincoln designed by Victor D. Brenner in honor of the centennial anniversary of Lincoln's birth.

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written by sean \\ tags: cents, coins, copper penny, flying eagle, flying eagle cent, indian head, lincoln cent, pressed penny, rare, rare us coins, small, Small Cents, US coins, wheat back pennies, wheat cents, wheat penny

The Half Cent was one of the first coins authorized by the U.S. Congress on April 2, 1792. Adam Eckfeldt is acknowledged as the designer of the Half Cent. It was first issued in 1793, and minted at the Philadelphia Mint until 1857. Its metal composition, copper, with a weight of 6.74 grams. The Half Cent was smallest denomination coin ever minted in the United States. Its low buying power and large size, 22mm, slightly smaller than a quarter, contributed to its unpopularity at the time.

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, was there ever a penny the size of a quarter minted in 1833?

written by sean \\ tags: buy, cents, classic head, coronet, draped bust, Half Cents, left, liberty cap, rare us, right