Draped Bust Large Cent, 1796–1807: History and Design

The Draped Bust cent arrived in the middle of 1796 as the replacement for the Liberty Cap design, bringing the cent into closer visual alignment with the Draped Bust portrait already used on several other federal denominations. The type continued through 1807, giving the large cent its longest uninterrupted design run to that point and producing two of the series’ most famous dates.

GetCoinHunt helps you search inventory from multiple coin dealers in one place if you’re building a type set of early American copper, compare available examples across this design’s twelve-year run, and create a wishlist alert when the right coin — including a genuine key date — is not currently listed.

Design and history

PCGS credits Robert Scot, the Mint’s first chief engraver, as designer. Liberty still faces right, but the loose cap and pole are gone: her hair is tied with a ribbon and drapery covers the bust below the neck. LIBERTY follows the upper border, the date sits below, and the reverse retains a wreath surrounding ONE CENT and the fraction 1/100, with UNITED STATES OF AMERICA encircling the reverse.

The broader Draped Bust portrait tradition has traditionally been associated with a concept by painter Gilbert Stuart and a model sometimes identified as Philadelphia socialite Ann Willing Bingham, though the precise path from artistic inspiration to Scot’s working dies is not completely documented. On the cent specifically, Robert Scot is the supported Mint-design attribution, and the model story is best treated as tradition rather than proven biography.

Every Draped Bust cent was struck at Philadelphia with no mintmark. The standard was copper, approximately 10.89 grams — the weight standard adopted in 1795 and carried forward for the rest of the large cent series — and about 28 to 29 millimeters in diameter, with a plain edge. Early 1796 and 1797 production reused or adapted reverse styles from earlier cents; PCGS identifies reverses known as the Reverse of 1794, Reverse of 1795 and Reverse of 1797 within this run, all still classified as Draped Bust cents.

Because dies were individually hand-prepared, dates, fractions, stems and lettering differ noticeably between examples. The famous LIHERTY inscription of 1796 resulted from a corrected or repunched letter configuration, and several dates show stemless wreaths, overdates or differently sized fractions. These features interest specialists without changing the basic design classification.

Notable dates within this design

The Draped Bust run contains two of the most celebrated dates in the entire large cent series. PCGS and NGC both recognize 1799 as the key date of the large cent series overall, the product of a very limited original mintage; genuine, problem-free examples are scarce in every grade and command prices far above other dates in this type. The 1804 large cent is likewise widely recognized by PCGS and NGC as one of the series’ great rarities, again the result of a low original mintage, and high-grade survivors are exceptionally difficult to locate.

Because both dates are so heavily sought after relative to their original mintages, they have also long been targets for altered-date fakes — a genuine, more common date reworked to resemble 1799 or 1804 — alongside outright counterfeits. Buyers should insist on certification from a major grading service for either date, and collectors wanting to understand general detection terminology can review GetCoinHunt’s documented counterfeit coins reference guide before purchasing. Outside 1799 and 1804, the LIHERTY variety of 1796 and the assorted stemless-wreath and overdate varieties draw specialist interest but are not flagged as exceptional rarities on the level of the type’s two key dates.

Collecting this design

Grading a Draped Bust cent still follows the numeric scale rooted in the large cent series itself, credited by the American Numismatic Association to William Sheldon’s research on this very type of coin. Given the presence of two genuinely famous key dates within this run, certification is especially important here: a certified 1799 or 1804 large cent carries real assurance of authenticity and grade that a raw example cannot match, and the price difference between a certified, problem-free coin and an uncertified or details-graded one can be substantial.

Porosity, dark or uneven color, and old environmental damage remain common on Draped Bust cents and do not by themselves indicate a problem coin; what affects value most is evidence of cleaning, recoloring or other alterations beyond natural wear and toning, which a certified holder will flag as a details grade.

Suggested search terms and filters

• “1799 large cent” (key date)
• “1804 large cent” (major rarity)
• “Draped Bust large cent”
• “1796 LIHERTY cent”
• Filter by grading service (PCGS, NGC)
• Filter by grade range

Availability and pricing notes

Most dates in this run are available in a range of circulated grades at prices well below the type’s two standout rarities. The 1799 and 1804 large cents are a different story: genuine examples are scarce in any grade and priced accordingly, often reaching well into four or five figures even in modest condition, with certified, problem-free pieces commanding significant additional premiums.

GetCoinHunt does not guarantee that every listing is authentic, accurately graded, or fairly priced. Authentication, grading, pricing, and fulfillment remain the responsibility of the dealer or marketplace offering the coin.

How the GetCoinHunt wishlist alert works

1. Search for the coin. Enter “Draped Bust Large Cent” — or a specific date like “1799 large cent” — to search participating dealer inventory.
2. Review the available matches. Compare listings by date, grade, certification, and asking price.
3. Add the search to your wishlist. If nothing currently listed fits your budget or condition target, save the search as a wishlist item.
4. Get notified about new matches. When new dealer inventory matching your wishlist appears, GetCoinHunt sends an alert so you can review it before it sells.
5. Verify before buying. Confirm certification, review the holder’s grade and any details designation, and check the seller’s return policy — especially for the 1799 and 1804 dates.

Frequently asked questions

Why is the 1799 large cent so valuable?

PCGS and NGC both recognize it as the key date of the entire large cent series because of its very limited original mintage. Genuine examples are scarce in every grade, which makes certification especially important before buying.

What makes the 1804 large cent a famous rarity?

Like the 1799, the 1804 large cent had a low original mintage and is widely recognized by PCGS and NGC as one of the series’ great rarities, particularly in higher grades.

Who is depicted in the Draped Bust portrait?

The obverse shows an idealized figure of Liberty. The broader Draped Bust design tradition used across several federal coins is often associated with painter Gilbert Stuart’s concept of Liberty and a model traditionally identified as Ann Willing Bingham, though the documented chain from that inspiration to the finished coin dies is incomplete.

Should I worry about altered-date fakes when buying a 1799 or 1804 cent?

Yes. Both dates’ fame relative to their low mintages has made them recurring targets for altered dates and outright counterfeits, so certification from PCGS or NGC is strongly recommended before buying either date.

What replaced the Draped Bust cent?

John Reich’s Classic Head cent replaced the Draped Bust design starting in 1808, bringing a new left-facing portrait with an inscribed LIBERTY headband.

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