Coronet large cent - Misplaced Pages

(Redirected from Matron Head) Coin issued by the United States Mint from 1816 to 1857 "Braided Hair" redirects here. For other uses, see Braided Hair (disambiguation).

Coronet large cent
Obverse
United States
Value	0.01 U.S. Dollar
Mass	10.89 g
Diameter	29 (1836–1839) or 27 (1839–1857 and 1868) mm
Edge	Plain
Composition	100% Cu
Years of minting	1816–1857 and 1868
Mint marks	None; all large cents were minted at the Philadelphia Mint.

Design	Liberty
Designer	Robert Scot
Design date	1816

Design	Liberty
Designer	Robert Scot (original design), Christian Gobrecht (modified design)
Design date	1836

Design	Liberty, Braided Hair, Petite Head
Designer	Robert Scot (original design), Christian Gobrecht (modified design)
Design date	1839

Design	Liberty, Braided Hair, Mature Head
Designer	Robert Scot (original design), Christian Gobrecht (modified design)
Design date	1843
Reverse

Design	Wreath
Designer	Robert Scot
Design date	1816

Design	Wreath
Designer	Robert Scot (original design), Christian Gobrecht (modified design)
Design date	1839

The Coronet large cent was a type of large cent issued by the United States Mint at the Philadelphia Mint from 1816 until 1857.

There are two similar designs of the Coronet large cent, the Matron Head and the Braided Hair, the latter with a slightly altered profile. This was the last large cent produced by the mint, being replaced by the reduced diameter Flying Eagle cent in 1857.

History

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During the War of 1812, a trade embargo was imposed between the United States and England, which had supplied the US Mint with copper planchets. The mint's supply was exhausted in 1814, and no Classic Head cents were produced dated 1815. It has often been written that no cents at all were struck that year, but coinage did resume in December 1815 using an 1814 or 1816-dated die.

Once the embargo was lifted and the mint received new planchets, large cent production resumed, this time with a new design of the goddess Liberty by Robert Scot. The design change was made because the Classic Head cents received much criticism.

In 1823, only proof cents were produced during the calendar year, all others were made in 1824 using back-dated dies.

The new cents, known as Matron Head cents, were not much better, however, and numismatist Walter H. Breen called the design "a spectacularly ugly head of Ms. Liberty". In 1836, Christian Gobrecht made several modifications to the design, giving the bust of Liberty a younger appearance.

Gobrecht made further changes in 1839, creating the "Petite Head" Braided Hair cent. In 1843, the bust was enlarged and tilted upward, this design is known as the "Mature Head".

Varieties

Matron Head varieties

Matron Head varieties (1816–1839)
Year	Variety	Mintage	Notes
1816	–	2,820,982
1817	13 stars	3,948,400
1817	15 stars error	3,948,400	Likely to have been caused by Robert Scot's poor eyesight due to age
1818	–	3,167,000
1819	Standard date	2,671,000
1819	9 over 8 error	2,671,000
1820	Small date	4,407,550
	Large date
	20 over 19 error		Both small date and large date known
1821	–	389,000
1822	–	2,072,339
1823	Standard date
	3 over 2 error
	Restrike	An estimated 240 examples exist	Believed to have been created around the same time as the 1804 restrike large cent
	Silver restrike	>2
1824	Standard date	1,262,000
1824	4 over 2 error	1,262,000
1825	–	1,461,100
1826	Standard date	1,517,425
1826	6 over 5 error	1,517,425
1827	–	2,357,732
1828	Large date	2,260,624
1828	Small date	2,260,624
1829	Large lettering	1,414,500
1829	Small lettering	1,414,500
1830	Large lettering	1,711,500
1830	Small lettering	1,711,500
1831	Large lettering	3,359,260
1831	Small lettering	3,359,260
1832	Large lettering	2,362,000
1832	Small lettering	2,362,000
1833	–	2,739,000
1834	Small 8, large stars	1,855,100
	Large 8, small stars
	Large 8, large stars, small lettering
	Large 8, large stars, large lettering
1835	Small 8, small stars	3,878,400
	Large 8, large stars
	Type of 1836
1836	–	2,111,000
1837	Type of 1837, large lettering	5,558,300
	Type of 1837, small lettering
	Type of 1838
1838	–	6,370,200
1839	Head of 1838	3,128,661
	Head of 1838, 9 over 6 error
	"Silly Head"
	"Booby Head"

Braided Hair varieties

Braided Hair varieties (1839–1857; 1868)
Year	Variety	Mintage	Notes
1839	–	3,128,661
1840	Small date	2,462,700
	Large date
	Small over large date error
1841	–	1,597,367
1842	Large date	2,383,390
1842	Small date	2,383,390
1843	Small head, small lettering	2,425,342
	Small head, large lettering
	Large head
1844	Standard date	2,398,752
1844	44 over 81 error	2,398,752	In reality, the date was punched into the die upside-down, but was corrected by punching the date correctly
1845	–	3,894,804
1846	Small date	4,120,800
	Medium date
	Tall date
1847	Standard date	6,183,669
1847	Large over small 47	6,183,669
1848	Standard date	6,415,799
1848	Small date (counterfeit)	>10-12	Although this coin is a counterfeit, many numismatists include this coin in coin catalogs
1849	–	4,178,500
1850	–	4,426,844
1851	Standard date	9,889,707
1851	51 over 81	9,889,707	This error is similar to the 44 over 81 error, and inverted date was corrected by punching the date correctly into the die
1852	–	5,063,094
1853	–	6,641,131
1854	–	4,236,156
1855	Upright 55	1,574,829
	Slanted 55
	Slanted 55, knob on ear		Error caused by a die break
1856	Upright 5	2,690,463
1856	Slanted 5	2,690,463
1857	Large date	333,456
1857	Small date	333,456
1868	Nickel	>7	Pattern coins struck for collectors
1868	Copper	≈12	Pattern coins struck for collectors

Replacement

Main articles: Ring cent and Flying Eagle cent

The price of copper rose dramatically in the late-1840s, and the cost of producing large cents rose as a result. The US Mint started seeking an alternative that used less copper. The first attempt was to perforate the coin, resulting in the ring cents of 1850 and 1851. The standard composition of these coins was billon, an alloy of 90% copper and 10% silver. This coin was not placed into production as it was expensive to extract the silver from the alloy, and the coins were difficult to eject from the dies. Additionally, a drop in the price of copper temporarily eliminated the need to replace the large cent.

The price of copper rose again in the mid-1850s, and the mint again looked for an alternative cent. This time, the cent was reduced in size, only a little larger than a dime. Patterns for the Flying Eagle cent were struck in 1854, and proved to be a suitable replacement for the large cent. The small cent was approved for production in 1856, and several thousand 1856 Flying Eagle cents were sold to collectors. Full-scale production commenced in mid-1857, replacing the large cent last struck earlier that year.

In 1868, eleven years after the last large cent was produced, a mint employee struck around a dozen and a half large cents dated 1868. These coins were struck in both copper and nickel planchets. Also produced that year were about 2 dozen dime patterns were minted in nickel with the obverse die of the 1868 large cent, plus an additional 2 dozen pieces struck in copper.

References

Garrett, Jeff; Bowers, Q. David; Bresset, Kenneth (2018). A Guide Book of United States Coins (72 ed.). R. S. Yeoman. p. 109.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
Garrett op cit p. 116.
"Classic Head Large Cents (1808–1814)". Archived from the original on May 1, 2019. Retrieved May 3, 2019.
Julian, R.W. (May 3, 2022). "Matron Head Cents 1816-1835". Numismatic News. Vol. 71, no. 11. Active Interest Media.
Julian, R.W. (May 24, 2022). "U.S. Mint Reports and Coinage". No. Numismatic News. Active Interest Media.
"Coronet Head Large Cents (1816-1839)". Archived from the original on May 3, 2019. Retrieved May 3, 2019.
"1817 Coronet Head Large Cent, 15 Stars". June 21, 2012. Archived from the original on May 3, 2019. Retrieved May 1, 2019.
"1823 1C Private Restrike, BN (Regular Strike) Coronet Head Cent - PCGS CoinFacts". PCGS. Archived from the original on December 27, 2019. Retrieved March 17, 2019.
"1823 Coronet Head Large Cent". June 21, 2012. Archived from the original on May 3, 2019. Retrieved May 1, 2019.
"1844/81 1C, BN (Regular Strike) Braided Hair Cent - PCGS CoinFacts". PCGS. Archived from the original on October 1, 2020. Retrieved May 1, 2019.
"1844/81 "Blundered Date" Braided Hair Large Cent". October 15, 2013. Archived from the original on May 1, 2019. Retrieved May 1, 2019.
"1851/81 1C, BN (Regular Strike) Braided Hair Cent - PCGS CoinFacts". PCGS. Archived from the original on May 1, 2019. Retrieved May 1, 2019.
"1857 Flying Eagle Cent". July 20, 2009. Archived from the original on May 3, 2019. Retrieved May 3, 2019.
"J610/P675". uspatterns.com. Archived from the original on November 3, 2019. Retrieved May 3, 2019.
"J611/P676". uspatterns.com. Archived from the original on August 3, 2019. Retrieved May 3, 2019.
"J647/P720". uspatterns.com. Archived from the original on May 10, 2019. Retrieved May 10, 2019.

Preceded byClassic Head cent

United States one-cent coin
(1816–1857)

Succeeded byFlying Eagle cent

Circulating coinage of the United States

Half cent (1⁄2¢)

Nova Constellatio (1783)
Liberty Cap (1793–1797)
Draped Bust (1800–1808)
Classic Head (1809–1836)
Braided Hair (1840–1857)

Large cent and
penny (1¢)

Fugio (Franklin) (1787)
Silver center (1792)
Chain (1793)
Wreath (1793)
Liberty Cap (1793–1796)
Draped Bust (1796–1807)
Classic Head (1808–1814)
Matron Head (1816–1839)
Braided Hair (1839–1857, 1868)
Ring (1850–1851, 1853, 1884–1885)
Flying Eagle (1856–1858, patterns struck in 1854–1855)
Indian Head (1859–1909, patterns struck in 1858)
Lincoln (1909–present)

Two cents (2¢)

Billon (1836)
Bronze (1864–1873, patterns struck in 1863)

Three cents (3¢)

Silver (1851–1873)
Bronze (Coronet Head) (1863)
Nickel (Liberty Head) (1865–1889)

Half dime and
nickel (5¢)

Half disme (1792)
Flowing Hair (1794–1795)
Draped Bust (1796–1797, 1800–1805)
Capped Bust (1829–1837)
Washington (1866; 1909–1910)
Seated Liberty (1837–1873)
Shield (1866–1883)
Liberty Head (1883–1913)
Buffalo (Indian Head) (1913–1938)
Jefferson (1938–present)

Dime (10¢)

Nova Constellatio (1783)
Disme (1792)
Draped Bust (1796–1807)
Capped Bust (1809–1837)
Seated Liberty (1837–1891)
Barber (1892–1916)
Mercury (1916–1945)
Roosevelt (1946–present)

Twenty cents (20¢)

Seated Liberty (1875–1878)

Quarter (25¢)

Draped Bust (1796–1807)
Capped Bust (1815–1838)
Seated Liberty (1838–1891)
Barber (1892–1916)
Standing Liberty (1916–1930)
Washington (eagle reverse) (1932–1998)
Washington (bicentennial) (1975–1976)
Washington (50 State) (1999–2008)
Washington (D.C. and U.S. Territories) (2009)
Washington (America the Beautiful) (2010–2021)
Washington (crossing the Delaware reverse) (2021)
Washington (American Women) (2022–2025)
Washington (Semiquincentennial) (2026)
Washington (youth sports) (2027–2030)

Half dollar (50¢)

Nova Constellatio (1783)
Flowing Hair (1794–1795)
Draped Bust (1796–1807)
Capped Bust (1807–1839)
Seated Liberty (1839–1891)
Barber (1892–1915)
Walking Liberty (1916–1947)
Franklin (1948–1963)
Kennedy (1964–present)
Kennedy (bicentennial) (1975–1976)

Dollar ($1)

Continental Currency (Fugio or Franklin) (1776)
Nova Constellatio (1783)
Flowing Hair (1794–1795)
Draped Bust (1795–1804)
Gobrecht (1836–1839)
Seated Liberty (1840–1873)
Trade (1873–1885)
Morgan (1878–1904; 1921; 2021–present)
Peace (1921–1935; 2021–present; patterns struck in 1964)
Eisenhower (1971–1978)
Eisenhower (bicentennial) (1975–1976)
Susan B. Anthony (1979–1981; 1999)
Sacagawea (2000–present)
Presidential (2007–2016; 2020)
American Innovation (2018–2032)

Gold

Gold dollar ($1)	Liberty Head (1849–1854) Indian Princess (1854–1889)
Quarter eagle ($2.50)	Draped Bust (1796–1807) Capped Bust (1808–1834) Classic Head (1834–1839) Liberty Head (1840–1907) Indian Head (1908–1929)
Three dollars ($3)	Indian Princess (1854–1889)
Half eagle ($5)	Draped Bust (1795–1807) Capped Bust (1808–1834) Classic Head (1834–1838) Liberty Head (1839–1908) Indian Head (1908–1929)
Eagle ($10)	Capped Bust (1795–1804) Liberty Head (1838–1907) Indian Head (1907–1933)
Double eagle ($20)	Liberty Head (1850–1907, pattern struck in 1849) Quintuple Stella (1879) Saint-Gaudens (1907–1933)

Other canceled
denominations

Two and a half cent piece (2.5¢) (not minted)
Two dollar piece ($2) (not minted)
Stella ($4) (1879–1880)
Half union ($50) (1877)
Union ($100) (not minted)

(italics) Obsolete
Canceled
(bold) Currently in production
Currently produced for collectors only
(bold and italics) Planned but production not commenced

Obsolete United States currency and coinage

Topics

Coins

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Half cent (1793–1857)
Fugio cent (1787)
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Two-cent piece (1864–1873)
Three-cent nickel (1865–1889)
Three-cent silver (1851–1873)
Half dime (1792–1873)
Twenty-cent piece (1875–1878)

Gold coins	Gold dollar (1849–1889) Quarter eagle (1796–1929) Three-dollar piece (1854–1889) Half eagle (1795–1929) Eagle (1795–1933) Double eagle (1850–1933; 2009)

Currency

Discontinued denominations

Discontinued currency types

v t e Coinage of the United States
Circulating	1¢ 5¢ 10¢ 25¢ 50¢ $1
Obsolete	1⁄2¢ 1¢ (Fugio) 1¢ (large size) 2¢ 3¢ (silver) 3¢ (nickel) 5¢ (silver) 20¢ $1 (gold) $2.5 $3 $5 $10 $20
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Bullion	Silver Eagle (1986–present) Gold Eagle (1986–present) Platinum Eagle (1997–present) Gold Buffalo (2006–present) First Spouse (gold) (2007–2016; 2020) Palladium Eagle (2017–present) America the Beautiful silver bullion coins (2010–2021) American Liberty high relief gold coin (2015–present)
Special sets	Proof Set (1936–present) Mint Set (1947–present) Special Mint Set (1964–1967) Souvenir Set (1972–1998) Silver Proof Set (1976, 1992–present) Prestige Set (1983–1997)

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