One Cent Coins

Collectible U.S. 1 cent coins have been the catalyst for many coin collectors who fondly remember looking through pennies as children and who eventually became drawn into numismatics as a hobby. Cents make up one of the most diverse and interesting categories of U.S. coins. The history of the U.S. One-Cent Penny, officially known as a “cent,” began when George Washington signed the Mint Act of 1792. Since then, over 300 billion one-cent coins have been minted with 11 different designs. For over 200 years, the penny’s design, from Liberty to Lincoln, has personified the American spirit. There are many legendary pennies which collectors dream to find, like the 1909-S VDB or the 1 Cent Lincoln double die rare issue in 1955. Keep reading to learn more about the history of the cent and to browse our product selection so you can begin your penny journey today!

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Get all the information you need on collecting U.S. pennies with our complete guide!

A Brief History of the Cent 

After the Mint Act of 1792 was signed, it took time to buy the land and build the first U.S. Mint, which opened for full-time coin production in 1793. One of the very first coins struck at the new U.S. Mint, was the new One-Cent coin, known as a Penny. The first circulating U.S. coins in the new America, were copper Large Cents, which were almost 50% larger than the Modern Penny, and was over five times heavier, with a diameter measuring nearly size the of a modern half-dollar today.

Large 1 Cent Coins

By 1857, U.S. Mint officials realized that the Large Cent’s size, which was designed in 1793, became too large some 60 years later, when consumers wanted smaller pocket change. Americans’ tolerance of carrying around a bunch of heavy, large one-cent coins in their pockets and purses came to a peak when the Large Cent series was discontinued in 1857.

The Liberty Cap One Cent Coin

Following the Flowing Hair Large Cent, the next Cent release was the Liberty Cap large cents of 1793, which are considered the classics of early American copper coinage. The large cent Liberty cap cent (1793 to 1796) had several revisions within just 3 years.  The U.S. Mint tried a new minting technique, by using a punch for Liberty’s head and cap, allowing for a consistent appearance and faster production.

The obverse and reverse designs of the 1794 Liberty Cap One Cent CoinThe obverse and reverse designs of the 1794 Liberty Cap One Cent Coin

The Draped Bust One Cent Coin

The replacement for the Liberty Cap design was known as the Draped Bust large cent, first released in mid-1796. In the closing years of the 18th century, early American commerce was transitioning to the new U.S. Coins, and the one cent coin was the cornerstone of daily commerce. Between 1796 and 1807, over 16 million Draped Bust large cents were minted.

1797 Draped Bust One Cent Coin1797 Draped Bust One Cent Coin

The Classic Head Large Cent

In 1808, the “Classic Head” design replaced the Draped Bust, with a left-facing portrait of Lady Liberty, with her curly hair tied with a headband that is inscribed with LIBERTY. Just over one million pieces struck when production began in 18081908, and over the next six years, just over 4.7 million issues were struck by the end of the series in 1814.

1811 Classic Head Large Cent1811 Classic Head Large Cent

The Matron Head One Cent Coin

The next Cent in the series was the “Coronet” type, also known as the “Matron Head,” which used the latest in mint technology and design innovations at the time. During the 24 years of the Coronet design from 1816 to 1839, the Philadelphia Mint produced a total of 51.7 million pieces.

1819 Cent Matron Head Obverse1819 Cent Matron Head Obverse

The Braided Hair Large Cent

The Braided Hair Cent was the last Large Cent that began in 1839 and ran until 1857. New steam press technology streamlined the minting process, achieving greater uniformity at a faster minting rate than any of the previous large cents.

1855 Cent Braided Hair Obverse1855 Cent Braided Hair Obverse

Small 1 Cent Coins

The Small 1 Cent coin replaced the Large Cent by giving us the diameter we are familiar with today. The first Small Cents were both thicker and heavier than today's modern penny. The Flying Eagle was short-lived, running from 1856 to 1858, and was quickly replaced with the Indian Head cent in 1859. In 1909, a commemoration of President Lincoln’s birth was minted into the 100th anniversary Wheat Penny. With minor modifications throughout the years, the obverse design of the Lincoln cent is the most enduring coin design in American history as it has been in continual use for over a century.

Flying Eagle Penny

As the value of the one-cent coin dropped, the Mint released a smaller Flying Eagle Penny design in 1957 that was minted with 12% nickel and 88% copper. The new Flying Eagle pennies were called "White cent" or "Nicks," because the nickel-copper alloy made them look brighter and lighter. After just 2 years, the Flying Eagle Cent was discontinued in 1858.

 1857–1858 Flying Eagle Cent 1857–1858 Flying Eagle Cent

Indian Cent

After the Flying Eagle Cent, the new Indian Cent design was introduced in 1859, that ran for fifty years through 1909. The public loved the simplicity of the coin’s Native American design, so it remained in use for half a century, with a total production of over 1.8 billion pieces. The Indian Head Cent was discontinued in 1909, with the introduction of the Lincoln Cent.

1859–1909 Indian Head Cent Decades Collection1859–1909 Indian Head Cent Decades Collection

The Wheat Penny

1909 was the Centennial anniversary of President Abraham Lincoln’s 100th birthday. It was in 1909 that Lincoln Cents were introduced with the iconic portrait of Abraham Lincoln as designed by Victor David Brenner. The reverse featured stalks of wheat, which gave it the nickname, “Wheat Penny.”

The obverse and reverse designs of the 1909 Wheat PennyThe obverse and reverse designs of the 1909 Wheat Penny

The Lincoln Cent Coin

During World War II, there was an urgent need for copper to support the war effort. In 1943, the U.S. Mint removed copper from the penny and replaced it with a zinc-coated steel Lincoln cent, which was minted for the first, and only time in U.S. Mint history. This coin stands apart from every other ever minted because it’s magnetic and contains no copper whatsoever.

1943 Steel Lincoln Cents1943 Steel Lincoln Cents

The Lincoln Memorial Penny

The U.S. Mint celebrated two events in 1959, the 50th anniversary of the Lincoln cent, and the 150th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s birth. To commemorate this event, the reverse was changed to the Lincoln Memorial design. When the price of copper increased in 1982, the U.S. Mint changed the “copper” composition to a zinc core with a thin copper plating to make the penny recognizable.

The obverse and reverse design of the 1969 Lincoln Memorial PennyThe obverse and reverse design of the 1969 Lincoln Memorial Penny

The Lincoln Bicentennial Cent

In 2009, the Lincoln Bicentennial Cent was issued to celebrate Lincoln’s birth, with four different designs of Lincoln throughout his lifetime. Then in 2010, a new permanent reverse design, the "Preservation of the Union," was released, featuring a Union shield which appears on the reverse all Lincoln cents today.

Lincoln Bicentennial One Cent CoinsLincoln Bicentennial One Cent Coins

Why Collect Pennies?

Copper coins have been the bread and butter of commerce for the everyday citizen for as long as coins have been made. In the United States specifically, copper pennies were among the first coins produced at the U.S. Mint in 1793. Serious collectors of the small denomination coin pursue pennies minted prior to 1982. The reason for this is because after 1982, the U.S. Mint changed the composition from 95% copper and 5% zinc to 99.2% zinc with a 0.8% copper coating. 

Pennies are not only considered by many to be an affordable way to begin a coin collection, but they are among the oldest coins minted in the United States as they have been around since the onset of the U.S. monetary system. As a result, they have a rich history in both design and composition. The Lincoln design specifically is the oldest design currently used on American coinage, beginning in 1909 and continuing to this day. There are even half-cent designs that complement the history of the 1 cent until they were discontinued in 1857. 

 

Which Old Pennies Are Valuable?

A penny’s worth depends on two factors: its quality and how hard it is to find.. While most pennies are only worth a few dollars, some are worth up to $200,000, and because of the common nature of the coin, they very well could be in your coin jar or pocket! One of the  most lucrative Pennies ever sold was a 1792 Birch Cent which sold for $2.6 million. Other notable pennies include:

  • 1943 Bronze Lincoln
  • 1969-S Double Die Obverse
  • 1972 Double Die Obverse
  • 1983 Double Die Reverse
  • 1992 Close AM Reverse
  • 1995 Double Die Obverse

Buy One Cent Coins at GovMint.com

GovMint.com is one of the top authorities with U.S. coinage, no matter the year, and has been serving the industry for over 30 years. We are one of the largest distributors of collectible coins and currency issues in the United States. As a private retailer, we are not affiliated with the U.S. government or U.S. Treasury.  Through our various endeavors, we have been able to provide collectors like you with leading-edge product introductions and new innovations within the collecting field. 

GovMint.com is an authorized dealer for coins that are authenticated, certified, and graded by Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC) and Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS). We are a resource you can trust!