U.S. COIN REFERENCE · Flowing Hair and Liberty Cap large cents
The first large cents: Chain, Wreath, and Liberty Cap
In 1793, three very different cent designs can carry the same year.
By SalarsNet · Reviewed October 5, 2026
Read the reverse before naming the cent
The Chain cent has linked rings on its reverse. The Wreath cent encloses the value with foliage, and the Liberty Cap type introduces a cap beside Liberty’s portrait. Liberty Cap cents continue through 1796. For an early large-cent type set, the reverse and portrait identify the slot; a date alone cannot.
Type references: PCGS Flowing Hair Large Cent ↗
The edge is part of the evidence
Lettered and plain edges occur among 1795 varieties as the standard changed. Photograph the edge without rubbing or scraping it, and retain any actual mass measurement separately from the reference standard. This is especially useful when a seller supplies only a face image or when corrosion obscures the portrait.
Type references: PCGS Flowing Hair Large Cent ↗
An unusual leaf or border needs a die match
Strawberry Leaf Wreath cents and the 1794 Starred Reverse are specialist candidates. A normal sprig, corrosion, or rim damage should not acquire one of those names merely because it looks unusual. Establish the die pair and authentication before selecting a rare-variety comparable. An ordinary type coin with honest surfaces can answer a different collecting goal.
Type references: PCGS Flowing Hair Large Cent ↗
Selected reviewed issue records
These catalog standards describe the named issue, not a measured specimen. The selected records below do not cover every date, mint, strike, or die variety. Reported production is labeled separately from established mintage. Unknown standards and mintage remain visible; survival estimates and certified populations are separate research questions.
No issue-level specification or mintage records are published for this category yet. Verify the exact date, mint, strike, metal, and subtype in its reference before using a numerical standard.
References and review
Reference reviewed October 5, 2026. Historical facts and catalog standards need to match the exact issue; price comparisons should be researched at the time of valuation.