United states | |
| Value | 0.01 U.S. Dollar |
|---|---|
| Mass | 13.48 g |
| Diameter | 26–27 mm |
| Edge | Decorated with bars and vines |
| Composition | 100%Cu |
| Years of minting | 1793 |
| Mint marks | None, all large cents were minted at thePhiladelphia Mint |
| Obverse | |
_(obverse).jpg) | |
| Design | Liberty (Breen obverse 3 shown) |
| Designer | Henry Voigt (supposedly) |
| Design date | 1793 |
| Reverse | |
_(reverse).jpg) | |
| Design | Chain (Breen reverse B shown) |
| Designer | Henry Voigt (supposedly) |
| Design date | 1793 |
Thechain cent wasAmerica's firstlarge cent and the first circulating coin officially produced by theUnited States Mint.[1] It was struck only during 1793.[2][3]
It was not the first circulating coin produced by the United States, which was theFugio cent of 1787 (also known as the Franklin cent), based on theContinental dollar. As with the Fugio cent, the Chain cent was made of copper and featured a chain symbolizing the linking together of the states of the United States.
Theobverse design consisted of a stylizedLiberty head with flowing hair, similar to that on the1792 half disme but facing right. The inscription "LIBERTY" appeared above the portrait, and the date below.
Thereverse's central design figure, for which the coin is named, is an interlockingchain with 15 links, representing the fifteenAmerican states in the Union at that time (the originalThirteen Colonies,Vermont andKentucky). Both the words "ONE CENT" and the fraction1/100 appear within the chain. Along the outer edge is inscribed "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA". On the first workingdie, the engraver failed to allow adequate room for the entire inscription, and it had to be abbreviated to "UNITED STATES OF AMERI.". These early dies were cut by hand, rather than being made frommaster hubs as is the practice today. (It is also said that the abbreviation was ordered by Mint DirectorDavid Rittenhouse in an attempt to "balance" the designs of the obverse and reverse).[4]
The edge of these coins is decorated with bars and vines with leaves.[5]
Chain cents were struck during late February and early March 1793; records indicate that approximately 36,103 were produced. However, the public reaction to the coins was largely unfavorable. One newspaper criticized the appearance of the Liberty head, saying that it appeared to be "in a fright". And, while the reverse chain had been intended to symbolize the unity of the newly formed Union (similar iconography had been utilized on the reverse of the earlierFugio Cent and Revolutionary War eraContinental currency), many commentators instead interpreted it as representative ofslavery. By March, the Mint had run out ofplanchets, which temporarily halted striking. During this time, a new design – theWreath cent – was quickly prepared and approved.[citation needed]
As a one-year only type coin and the firstbusiness strike cent, the Chain cent has always been in demand, both by collectors of large cents, as well as type collectors.[6] Struck for about two weeks from late February until early March 1793, only about 1,000 coins are known to exist today, and even coins in the lowest grades still sell for thousands of dollars.[7]
| Preceded by | United States one-cent coin (1793) | Succeeded by |
