US Coins - Small Cents 1856 - 1958
This page depicts only US Small Cents, the representatives of a few types (not all), that I dug up at various locations in the North-East USA.
FLYING EAGLE TYPE 1856 - 1858
Specifics:
Diameter:
19 mm
Weight: 4.67 grams or 72 grains
Edge: Plain
Composition: 88%
copper, 12% nickel
Quantity minted: 42,050,000
Proofs minted: (approx.)
280 rare, (approx.) 1000 in 1856
Mint marks: None
Designers: James Longacre
OBVERSE: Two varieties were created by 1) a normal separation between the serifs on A and M in AMERICA ("Small Letter" design), and 2) a continuous serif connecting these two letters ("Large Letter" design).
REVERSE: A wreath of corn, cotton, wheat, and tobacco - the four major agricultural products of the United States - envelopes the denomination ONE CENT. It was determined that the popularity of the new cent would serve to promote the export commodities of America.
Key-dates:
1856
INDIAN HEAD TYPE 1859 - 1909
VARIETY 1 - COPPER-NICKEL, Laurel Wreath Reverse 1859 only
Specifics:
Diameter:
19 mm
Weight: 4.67 grams or 72 grains
Edge: Plain
Composition: 88%
copper, 12% nickel
Quantity minted: 36,400,000
Proofs minted: Unknown
Mint marks: None
Designers: James Longacre
OBVERSE: James Barton Longacre designed the Indian Head device using his daughter Sarah as his model when a group of Indians was visiting the U.S. Mint in Philadelphia. Their visit came just as James was showing his 12-year-old daughter the workings of the Mint. According to the Longacre descendants, "An old chief, attracted by the sweet-faced maiden who had taken an interest in his Indian headdress, placed the warbonnet on the young girl's head. it was such a striking picture that Longacre immediately took up sketch pad and began to draw his daughter in her borrowed headgear."
VARIETY 2 - COPPER-NICKEL, Oak Wreath with Shield 1860 - 1864
Specifics:
Diameter:
19 mm
Weight: 4.67 grams or 72 grains
Edge: Plain
Composition: 88%
copper, 12% nickel
Quantity minted: 122,321,000
Proofs minted: 3,310
Mint marks: None
Designers: James Longacre
REVERSE: The wreath of laurel was replaced by wreath of oak, separated at the top by a shield
VARIETY 3 - BRONZE 1864 - 1909
Specifics:
Diameter:
19 mm
Weight: 3.11 grams or 48 grains
Edge: Plain
Composition: 95%
copper, 5% tin/zink
Quantity minted: 1,690,916,000
Proofs minted: 96,848
Mint marks: S-1908-09 only
Designers: James Longacre
OBVERSE: A few of the last coins struck in 1864 carried the initial "L" for Longacre
Key-dates:
1869 (over 9), 1877, 1888 (over 7), 1909S
One of the Key Dates: 1877 Indian Head Cent
LINCOLN TYPE, Wheat Ears Reverse - "Wheat Penny" 1909 - 1958
VARIETY 1 - BRONZE 1909 - 1942, 1944 - 1958
Specifics:
Diameter:
19 mm
Weight: 3.11 grams or 48 grains
Edge: Plain
Composition: 95%
copper, 5% tin/zink
Quantity minted: 21,063,560,620
Proofs minted: 3,851,763
Mint marks: D and S
Designers: Victor D. Brenner
REVERSE: The designer's initials VDB appear on the reverse of a limited quantity of cents of 1909
Key-dates:
1909S V.D.B., 1914D, 1922 (no D), 1931S, 1944D (D over S), 1955 (Doubled die obverse)
VARIETY 2 - ZINK-COATED STEEL 1943 only
World War II Steel 1943 Penny
Specifics:
Diameter:
19 mm
Weight: 2.70 grams or 42.5 grains
Edge: Plain
Composition: Zink-coated
Steel
Quantity minted: 1,093,838,670
Proofs minted: None
Mint marks:
D and S
Designers: Victor D. Brenner
Owing to a shortage of copper during the critical war year 1943, the Treasury Department resorted to the use of zink-coated steel for small cents. No bronze cents were officially issued in 1943. A few specimens struck on bronze planchets by error are known to exist.
Off the News Stand:
December 14, 2006
Because the prices of metals has gone up, the copper and zinc in modern 1-cent coin are worth 1.12 cents. So if 100 pennies are melted down, one can get a profit of 12 cents - and that has the government worried. U.S. Mint officials put into place rules prohibiting the melting down of 1-cent and 5-cent coins. The rules also limit the number of coins that can be shipped out of the country. "We are taking this action because the nation needs its coinage for commerce. We do not want to see our pennies and nickels melted down so a few individuals can take advantage of the American taxpayer," Mint Director Edmund Moy said in a statement. The new regulations prohibit the melting of 1-cent and 5-cent coins, with a penalty of up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000 for people convicted of violating the rule.
Because
of the prevailing prices of copper, zinc and nickel, the cost of producing pennies
and nickels exceeds the face value of the coins. A nickel is 25 percent nickel
and 75 percent copper. The metal in one coin costs 6.99 cents for each 5-cent
coin. When the Mint's cost of producing the coins is added, the total cost for
each nickel is 8.34 cents. Modern pennies have 2.5 percent copper content with
zinc making up the rest of the coin. The current copper and zinc in a penny are
worth 1.12 cents. The cost of production drives the cost of each penny up to 1.73
cents.
Pennies made before 1982, which are still in circulation, would be even more lucrative to melt down because they contain 95 percent copper and only 5 percent zinc. The metal value in those coins is 2.13 cents per coin, Mint officials said. The new regulations are being published in the Federal Register and will go into effect as interim rules which will not become final until the government has a chance to consider possible modifications based on public comments.
(Source: Martin Crutsinger, AP)
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