Flowing Hair Large Cent Values & Mintages

Grading tips

On these early coppers, grade is judged by the hair detail and the legibility of LIBERTY and the date. Porosity, corrosion and planchet flaws are common and reduce value sharply, so "problem-free" surfaces matter as much as the numeric grade.

The first deliveries of 1793

The Mint's first regular delivery of cents came at the start of March 1793, when the chief coiner handed over a batch of Chain cents to the treasurer. Copper was scarce, so the Mint bought it wherever it could, including scrap copper and old copper items. The coins were struck on hand-operated screw presses. Each die lasted only a short time before cracking.

The very first Chain die abbreviated the country's name as AMERI., apparently because the engraver ran out of room. Later Chain dies spelled out AMERICA. Both are collected as separate varieties, with the AMERI. version scarcer.

Why the chain was replaced

The chain of fifteen links was meant to show the unity of the states, but newspapers of the day mocked it. Critics said the chain was a poor symbol for a free people and that Liberty on the obverse looked frightened. Within weeks the Mint replaced the chain with a wreath of leaves and berries and refined the portrait. The quick change explains why the Chain cent is one of the shortest-lived designs in American coinage.

Wreath cent edges and leaves

Wreath cents have two kinds of edge. Some show a vine and bars pattern, while later ones carry the lettered edge ONE HUNDRED FOR A DOLLAR, which also stated the value. Above the date on the obverse sits a small sprig of leaves, a detail that varies from die to die.

The rarest variety is the Strawberry Leaf cent, which has a sprig with distinctive three-lobed leaves and is known by only a handful of examples. Most Wreath cents are identified by Sheldon numbers, with the Chain cents at the start of the list as S-1 through S-4.

How collectors approach 1793 cents

Few collectors can own every 1793 variety, so most aim for one Chain and one Wreath cent as type coins. Expect dark color and porous or corroded surfaces on many survivors. A well-defined date and legible lettering matter more than a high numerical grade, since early copper with solid detail and smooth surfaces is rare at any level of wear.

These coins are prime targets for counterfeiters and for skilled alterations. Some fakes are struck copies made for the souvenir market. Others are later cents with altered dates. Weigh the coin against the standard of 13.48 grams, look for sharp edge details and buy only certified examples.

Telling a Chain cent from a Wreath cent portrait

Even on a worn coin the two types can be separated. The Chain cent shows Liberty with wild, loose hair and a rather startled face, with nothing between the bust and the date. The Wreath cent has a more refined portrait in higher relief with a small sprig of leaves above the date. If the reverse is readable, the chain or wreath settles it at once. In July 1793 the Mint also began striking half cents, which used a Liberty Cap design facing left.

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