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Classic Head Large Cent
The Classic Head large cent coin was an innovation in design, or at least a change introduced by the new US Mint Director, Robert Patterson that was minted from 1808 -1814. Up until that time, all coins bore designs by Chief Engraver Robert Scot. The new US Mint Director changed all of the designs on all of the coins, perhaps feeling the current designs lacking in some fashion. While Robert Patterson was apparently unimpressed by the work of Robert Scot, the coin collectors of the time (and sometimes today) were equally unimpressed with Robert Patterson’s changes and this new vision by John Reich of Lady Liberty.
One result of these changes was a new Miss Liberty head that became known as the Classic Head large cent coin. Rather than the younger and more feminine bust of prior large cent coins this lady looked a bit on the heavy side, her hair was tightly curled and confined in a headband bearing the LIBERTY stamp. In fact in many eyes it was not considered an improvement over the earlier busts and was immediately nicknamed “The Blowsy Barmaid Bust”. The Classic large cent coin bore this somewhat ignominious nickname until the mid 1800s when it was nicknamed the “Classic Head large cent” coin by a collector because of the classic style headband.
There are not any particularly rare years for collectors of the Classic Head cent though there was a roller coaster where one year’s mintage might reach over 1 million and the next barely 250,000 coins. 4,757,722 Classic Head large cent coins were minted over the 6 years of its life. The copper of this particular large cent coin appears to be of lower quality and it is frequently found pitted and corroded in coins from this series. Coins considered in very good condition are not considered rare in the large cent series but a coin of the Classic Head large cent series lacking significant corrosion, good color and with decent detail is an excellent find.
Just as vintage wines have “very good years” so do coins, and although commonly seen, the Classic Head large cent struck in 1814 are considered a very good year. These seem to have sharper detail and some coins have the desirable touch of mint red to them. Some collectors prefer to focus on this year due to the decent detail and marginally better surface texture. Red brown coins of this era have a little more value to collectors than brown and red of course is desirable. Brown and blackened coins from the Classic Head cent series are very common.
Though color and surface texture play a large part in this series (probably due to low grade copper) so does detail and a Classic Head large cent with the LIBERTY in readable condition, The leaves of the wreath still detailed on the obverse side is cause for excitement.
The Classic Head large cent coin may not have been the most beautiful of the Liberty designs however; she is a piece of history that can be obtained at a reasonable price relatively easily by the collector.
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