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Glossary

U.S. Copper Type Coins

Grading
  Half Cents Regular Strikes  

The half cent was one of the first coins authorized by the United States Mint. First issued in 1793, it was minted on and off until 1857. It is the smallest-denomination coin this country has ever issued. Its low buying power & large size (it is slightly smaller than a quarter) contributed to its unpopularity, in spite of the deflated prices of its day. There are 5 major varieties of this coin.

Description Desig F EF AU 60 62 63 64 65 66 67
Liberty Cap Left 1/2 C
1793
RB  - - - 42500 67500 100000 - - - -
Liberty Cap Left 1/2 C
1793
BN  5500 18000 28500 37500 52500 75000 95000 125000 185000 -
Liberty Cap Right 1/2 C
1794 Large Head
BN  1250 4200 11000 17500 27500 35000 47500 70000 100000 -
Liberty Cap Right 1/2 C
1794 Large Head
RB  - - - - 35000 47500 75000 150000 200000 -
Liberty Cap Right 1/2 C
1795-1797 Small Head
BN  1000 4000 9000 14500 22000 32500 42000 57500 70000 90000
Draped Bust 1/2 C
1800-1808
BN  85 290 675 1100 1600 2500 5000 7250 - -
Draped Bust 1/2 C
1800-1808
RB  - - - 1300 2200 3500 6200 14000 - -
Classic Head 1/2 C
1809-1835
BN  65 110 175 250 290 420 600 1150 2750 -
Classic Head 1/2 C
1809-1835
RB  - - - 265 325 550 1100 2750 5000 -
Classic Head 1/2 C
1809-1835
RD  - - - 285 500 1300 3250 13500 - -
Braided Hair 1/2 C
1849-1857
BN  62 100 165 200 275 375 550 1100 2250 -
Braided Hair 1/2 C
1849-1857
RB  - - - 225 325 450 850 2000 - -
Braided Hair 1/2 C
1849-1857
RD  - - - 260 375 875 2000 6750 - -

Large Cents Regular Strikes
Large cents were made from 1793 to 1857. Somewhat larger than a quarter, the large cent lasted until 1857, the victim of its own weight (bulky) and high production cost. Like the half cent, it was made of copper, and there are seven major varieties.

Description Desig F EF AU 60 62 63 64 65 66 67
Flowing Hair Cent
1793 Chain
BN  16500 47500 78000 95000 110000 135000 175000 350000 550000 875000
Flowing Hair Cent
1793 Wreath
BN  4750 13500 22000 32000 37500 47500 85000 165000 225000 275000
Liberty Cap Cent
1793 Beaded Border
BN  13500 49000 100000 125000 - 160000 220000 - - -
Liberty Cap Cent
1794-1795 Dent. Border
BN  800 3200 5750 7000 8000 9500 12000 23000 37500 50000
Liberty Cap Cent
1794-1795 Dent. Border
RB  - - - 7500 9000 11000 15000 35000 57500 72500
Draped Bust Cent
1796-1807
BN  200 1000 2000 3000 4600 7500 13500 20000 32500 -
Draped Bust Cent
1796-1807
RB  - - - 3200 5000 8500 15000 30000 45000 75000
Classic Head Cent
1808-1814
BN  275 1350 3000 4000 6000 9000 15000 22500 32500 43000
Classic Head Cent
1808-1814
RB  - - - 4500 7250 11500 20000 32000 45000 60000
Coronet Head Cent
1816-1839
BN  35 150 300 400 450 525 700 1150 2400 5750
Coronet Head Cent
1816-1839
RB  - - - 425 500 600 1000 2500 4500 -
Coronet Head Cent
1816-1839
RD  - - - 450 575 1750 4750 12500 22000 -
Braided Hair Cent
1839-1857
BN  29 70 200 250 275 300 450 900 1650 3750
Braided Hair Cent
1839-1857
RB  - - - 260 300 350 575 1400 2600 -
Braided Hair Cent
1839-1857
RD  - - - 275 375 650 1500 4100 8500 27500

Small Cents Regular Strikes
Flying Eagle Cent
Showing an eagle in flight, the flying eagle cent lasted two years. (Although there is an 1856 flying eagle cent, only 1000 were produced, and this coin is regarded as a pattern.) In 1859 the Mint decided to change the obverse from an eagle in flight to that of an Indian girl. The resultant coin was one of the most attractive minor coins and one of the most popular coins this nation has ever produced.

Indian Head Cent
In addition to placing the head of an Indian girl on the obverse, the Mint changed the reverse to an oak wreath. In 1860 a small shield was added at the top of the wreath. Composition remained the same as that of the flying eagle; the nickel alloy.
During 1864 the composition was changed to copper, tin and zinc. 

Description Desig F EF AU 60 62 63 64 65 66 67
Flying Eagle Cent
1856-1858
  40 140 200 290 425 675 1500 4500 13500 50000
Indian Cent
1859 No Shield
  28 125 200 250 290 500 1100 3500 8000 -
Indian Cent
1860-1864 Copper-Nickel
  16 30 65 90 115 165 295 1200 2800 13000
Indian Cent
1864-1909 Bronze
BN  - 12 22 27 30 38 50 75 200 825
Indian Cent
1864-1909 Bronze
RB  - - - 31 36 45 75 170 350 -
Indian Cent
1864-1909 Bronze
RD  - - - 35 42 75 230 700 1800 16500
Lincoln Cent
1909-1958 Wheat Rev.
RD  - - - - - - - - 25 40
Lincoln Cent
1943 Steel
  - - - - - - - 15 25 75
Lincoln Cent
1959 to Date Memorial
RD  - - - - - - - - 1.0 7.0
Shield Two Cent
1864-1872
BN  28 45 - 95 110 140 190 385 1000 -
Shield Two Cent
1864-1872
RB  - - - 105 125 165 285 600 1400 -
Shield Two Cent
1864-1872
RD  - - - 125 275 390 690 1650 5000 15000

Early Proofs

Description Desig F EF AU 60 62 63 64 65 66 67
Classic Head 1/2 C
1809-1835
BN  - - - 3500 4200 4500 5250 8500 12000 18500
Classic Head 1/2 C
1809-1835
RB  - - - 4200 5000 5500 7500 11500 14500 -
Classic Head 1/2 C
1809-1835
RD  - - - - - 8000 16000 24000 30000 -
Braided Hair 1/2 C
1849-1857
BN  - - - 2800 3400 4250 5250 7500 11000 -
Braided Hair 1/2 C
1849-1857
RB  - - - 3100 3650 5250 6900 10000 14500 -
Braided Hair 1/2 C
1849-1857
RD  - - - 3650 4200 6250 11500 24500 37500 -
Coronet Head Cent
1816-1839
BN  - - - 3500 6000 8000 11000 16500 20000 -
Coronet Head Cent
1816-1839
RB  - - - - 6750 9000 12500 20000 - -
Coronet Head Cent
1816-1839
RD  - - - - - 11000 16500 - - -
Braided Hair Cent
1839-1857
BN  - - - - 3750 4500 5750 7500 9500 -
Braided Hair Cent
1839-1857
RB  - - - 3500 4250 5000 6500 9000 - -

Small Cents Proofs

Description Desig F EF AU 60 62 63 64 65 66 67
Flying Eagle Cent
1856-1858
  - - - 3250 4500 8000 15000 27500 45000 65000
Flying Eagle Cent
1856-1858
CA  - - - - - 9000 17500 35000 - -
Indian Cent
1859 No Shield
  - - - 600 815 1500 3200 5200 10000 27500
Indian Cent
1859 No Shield
CA  - - - - - 1750 3750 6750 16500 -
Indian Cent
1860-1864 Copper-Nickel
  - - - 400 490 950 1400 2400 4500 15000
Indian Cent
1860-1864 Copper-Nickel
CA  - - - - - 1050 1600 3000 5500 17500
Indian Cent
1860-1864 Copper-Nickel
DC  - - - - - 1200 2000 4500 7500 -
Indian Cent
1864-1909 Bronze
BN  - - - 79 110 140 175 390 695 1300
Indian Cent
1864-1909 Bronze
RB  - - - 105 135 175 345 875 1450 1700
Indian Cent
1864-1909 Bronze
RD  - - - 110 145 210 400 1200 2200 8000
Indian Cent
1864-1909 Bronze
CA  - - - - - - 500 1500 3000 12500
Indian Cent
1864-1909 Bronze
DC  - - - - - - - 6500 10000 -
Lincoln Cent
1909-1958 Wheat Rev.
RD  - - - - - - - - 35 50
Lincoln Cent
1909-1958 Wheat Rev.
CA  - - - - - 11 20 46 90 190
Lincoln Cent
1909-1958 Wheat Rev.
DC  - - - - 20 27 43 150 350 1500
Lincoln Cent
1959 to Date Memorial
RD  - - - - - - - - - 10
Lincoln Cent
1959 to Date Memorial
CA  - - - - - - - - - 10
Lincoln Cent
1959 to Date Memorial
DC  - - - - - - - 10 11 15
Shield Two Cent
1864-1872
BN  - - - 280 345 390 465 650 1100 -
Shield Two Cent
1864-1872
RB  - - - 325 400 465 550 825 1500 6000
Shield Two Cent
1864-1872
RD  - - - 355 465 600 1100 2800 4500 20000
Shield Two Cent
1864-1872
CA  - - - - - - 1500 3750 6000 -



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