Numismatic

1800/1798 Large Cent Fine

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In the earliest days of the United States Mint, resourcefulness was key to coin production. This copper cent, dated 1800, displays a fascinating physical record of that era's minting practices. It is an overdate coin, struck using a die that was originally engraved with the year 1798 and later modified for the turn of the century. This visible layering of history makes each surviving specimen a captivating puzzle for those who study early American minting. The obverse of this large copper coin features the classic Draped Bust profile of Liberty facing toward the right. Above her likeness, the word LIBERTY is inscribed, while the modified date sits below her bust. This design represents one of the foundational motifs of early United States coinage, capturing the aesthetic preferences of a young republic. On the reverse, a delicate wreath encircles the denomination, which is spelled out as One Cent. Encircling this central wreath is the inscription United States of America. Struck at the Philadelphia Mint, which did not use a mint mark at the time, this piece has survived in Fine condition, preserving the essential details of its historic, dual-date engraving.