Draped Bust Facts & History:
The Draped Bust Large Cent Coin was minted from 1797-1807 and with several varieties: 1796 LIHERTY, 1798/9 over date, 1801 1/1000 incorrect fraction, only one stem, and IINITED, 1807/6 over date, and a 'gripped' (incuse segments on the edge) and 'plain' edge varieties. The links to the far right show many varieties that is not listed in these facts.
One must be aware of the 1804 counterfeits as this is a very rare key date.
Scot's Draped Bust coin design was modeled after a drawing by artist Gilbert Stuart. It depicts Liberty with flowing hair, a ribbon behind her head and drapery at her neckline. The inscription LIBERTY is above the bust and the date below. The reverse features the denomination ONE CENT, encircled by an open wreath of two olive branches tied with a bow. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA surrounds the wreath, and the fraction 1/100 is between the ends of the bow.
There are three varieties of reverses; each varies the leaves and berries on the wreath. They are known as the "Type of 1794," "Type of 1795" or "Type of 1797." All three types were used on the reverse of 1796 cents, with the latter two types on the 1797. The last reverse remained constant on the dates through 1807.
Since the lettering was punched into the dies by hand, errors abound. Among these are blunders such as the "LIHERTY" error where the "B" was rotated 180 degrees before being punched and then crudely corrected, or the "T" over "Y" blunder in 1802. Other variations involve the spacing and positioning of the lettering and date. Reverse errors include the wrong fraction, 1/000; a corrected fraction; the 2nd "T" in STATES or the "U" in UNITED punched inverted, then corrected; a large fraction punched over a small fraction and a stemless wreath.
Over sixteen million Draped Bust large Cent coins were made between 1796 and 1807. Although replete with many scarce varieties, the series has one particularly rare date, 1799. First popularized by early 19th century collector Joseph Mickley's search for his birthyear coin, the 1799 issue has achieved fame among large cent devotees. Although the mintage was relatively high, they are elusive in all grades. One story relating to their short supply opines that thousands of 1799 dated cents destined for tribal chiefs in exchange for slaves were lost at sea while being shipped to Africa by a Salem, Massachusetts company.
Information courtesy of NGC and Coinfacts.com
SPECIFICATIONS:
Designer: Robert Scot
Diameter: 28 millimeters
Metal content: Copper - 100%
Weight: 168 grains (10.9 grams)
Edge: Plain, except for two varieties that have a "Gripped" Edge
Mint marks: None (all 1797 Large Cents were struck at the Philadelphia Mint)
DRAPED BUST CENT 1796-1807
Draped Bust One Cent Dates
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