Numismatic

1853 Large Cent MS-64 PCGS (Brown)

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In the decade preceding the American Civil War, everyday commerce relied heavily on substantial copper coins. This 1853 copper penny represents the final decade of the United States large cent, a denomination that served as a cornerstone of daily transactions across the nation for nearly a century. Struck at the Philadelphia Mint, the obverse of this coin displays the elegant Braided Hair portrait of Liberty. Facing left, her hair is bound up with a tiara inscribed with the word LIBERTY, while thirteen stars encircle the border to represent the original colonies. Below the bust, the crisp date of 1853 is clearly visible. The reverse features a simple yet dignified design, where a delicate wreath wraps around the central denomination of ONE CENT. The legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA surrounds this central motif. Preserved in an exceptional Mint State 64 condition with a distinct brown copper patina, this coin offers a remarkably clear look at the artistry of mid-nineteenth-century American coinage.