Spanning 1793 to 1796, the Liberty Cap Large Cent is a favorite among copper specialists. Designed by Joseph Wright and later refined by Robert Scot, this series transitioned from the thick “Bisecting” planchets to thinner blanks. It includes the highly sought-after 1793 and 1795 “Lettered Edge” varieties.
The Liberty Cap Large Cent is considered by many to be the most “classical” of early American designs. Inspired by the Libertas Americana medal, it features Liberty with a pole and a Phrygian cap—a symbol of a freed slave in Roman times. This series transitioned the Mint from the “Flowing Hair” era into a more standardized look.
Collector’s Note: This series is divided into the “Head of 1793,” “Head of 1794,” and “Head of 1795.” Specialists use Sheldon (S) numbers to identify hundreds of distinct die marriages. When buying for this category, look for “Chocolate Brown” surfaces—avoid coins with “pitted” surfaces or environmental damage, which are common for copper buried in acidic soil for two centuries.
The Liberty Cap Large Cent is often cited by numismatists as the most artistically “complete” design of the early United States Mint. Struck from late 1793 through 1807 (though the “Liberty Cap” head style technically ended in 1796 for the Large Cent), this series represents the final evolution of the 18th-century cent. It replaced the…