Liberty Cap Large Cent, 1793–1796: History and Design

The Liberty Cap cent was the third major cent design introduced in 1793 and the first to last beyond a single calendar year, continuing through 1796. It replaced the Wreath cent and bridges the Mint’s chaotic opening year with the more settled coinage produced under Chief Engraver Robert Scot, adding a liberty cap on a pole behind Liberty’s portrait to make the coin’s revolutionary symbolism explicit.

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 four-year run, and create a wishlist alert when the right coin is not currently listed.

Design and history

Designer attribution shifts partway through this type. PCGS attributes the 1793 Liberty Cap cent to Joseph Wright, an American artist who served briefly as a Mint engraver and died during the Philadelphia yellow-fever epidemic later that year. The 1794 Liberty Cap dies are instead attributed to Robert Scot, who was appointed chief engraver in November 1793. Because dies were working tools refined by a small Mint staff, it is more accurate to recognize this mid-series transition than to credit every Liberty Cap cent to a single named artist.

Liberty faces right, her long hair flowing behind her, with a pole extending over her shoulder to support the soft cap traditionally associated with freedom. LIBERTY appears above and the date below. The reverse places ONE CENT and 1/100 within a wreath, with UNITED STATES OF AMERICA around the border — the same basic reverse formula introduced on the Wreath cent and carried forward, in modified form, through every later large cent design. The portrait itself changed repeatedly in scale and style during 1794 in particular, producing named head styles that interest die-variety specialists.

The physical standard changed meaningfully during this type’s run. Early pieces followed the heavy 13.48-gram standard established on the Chain and Wreath cents and could carry the edge inscription ONE HUNDRED FOR A DOLLAR. In 1795 the Mint reduced the legal weight to approximately 10.89 grams, a standard that would remain in place for every large cent design through the series’ end in 1857. PCGS notes that edge lettering was discontinued along with the weight reduction, so post-1795 Liberty Cap cents generally carry plain edges. These were official Mint adjustments to production standards, not errors or unofficial issues.

Every regular Liberty Cap cent was struck at Philadelphia, with no branch-mint production and no legitimate mintmark to search for. Copper quality and planchet preparation varied considerably during this period, so dark color, granularity, lamination and imperfect strikes are familiar characteristics of genuine examples rather than automatic signs of damage. The 1796 date is transitional: both Liberty Cap and Draped Bust cents were struck that year, so the Liberty Cap type does not end at a clean calendar boundary.

Notable dates within this design

No single date within this type stands out as an extreme rarity the way later large-cent key dates do, but 1793 Liberty Cap cents are notably scarce simply because production began only partway through the year, following the Chain and Wreath cents. The 1795 date carries particular significance as the year of the Mint’s weight-standard reduction, and both lettered-edge (pre-reduction) and plain-edge (post-reduction) 1795 cents exist. The 1794 dies are the type’s most actively studied for named head styles and the distinctive Starred Reverse variety, a specialist die attribution rather than a rarity claim.

One historical caution is worth noting: PCGS states that the so-called 1795 “Jefferson Head” cents were made outside the U.S. Mint, apparently in pursuit of a private coining contract, and should not be treated as an ordinary Mint portrait variety. Collectors researching this and other authenticity questions around early copper can review GetCoinHunt’s documented counterfeit coins reference guide for general terminology and detection concepts.

Collecting this design

Grading Liberty Cap cents uses the same numeric scale that traces back to the large cent series itself — the American Numismatic Association credits William Sheldon’s large-cent research with originating the 1–70 point system later adopted across all U.S. coin grading. Because this type spans the 1795 weight and edge change, a coin’s edge treatment can help confirm which production phase it belongs to, and listings that note both grade and edge type give collectors useful information beyond the numeric grade alone.

Porosity, uneven color and planchet flaws remain common on Liberty Cap cents, consistent with the era’s variable copper supply. What affects value most is evidence of cleaning, harsh polishing or added color meant to disguise wear or corrosion — issues a certified PCGS or NGC holder will flag as a details grade rather than a straight numeric grade. Given the type’s age and value, certified examples are worth the premium over raw coins for most buyers.

Suggested search terms and filters

• “1793 Liberty Cap cent,” “1794 Liberty Cap cent”
• “1795 Liberty Cap cent,” “1796 Liberty Cap cent”
• “Liberty Cap cent lettered edge” (pre-1795) or “plain edge” (post-1795)
• Filter by grading service (PCGS, NGC)
• Filter by grade range

Availability and pricing notes

The 1793 Liberty Cap cent is the scarcest and most expensive date in this type, reflecting its brief production window within an already low-mintage year. The 1794 through 1796 dates are more available in circulated grades, though genuine examples with smooth, problem-free surfaces remain considerably harder to find than typical worn, porous pieces. Lettered-edge 1795 cents, representing the pre-reduction standard, often draw added collector interest.

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 “Liberty Cap Large Cent” — or a specific date like “1794 Liberty Cap cent” — to search participating dealer inventory.
2. Review the available matches. Compare listings by date, edge type, 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.

Frequently asked questions

Who designed the Liberty Cap cent?

PCGS attributes the 1793 issue to Joseph Wright, who died during that year’s yellow-fever epidemic, and the 1794 dies to Robert Scot, who was appointed chief engraver in November 1793.

What changed about the cent in 1795?

The Mint reduced the legal weight from 13.48 grams to approximately 10.89 grams, a standard that remained in place for the rest of the large cent series. Edge lettering was discontinued at the same time, so post-1795 examples are typically plain-edged.

What is a “Jefferson Head” cent, and should I avoid it?

PCGS states that 1795 Jefferson Head cents were produced outside the U.S. Mint, apparently in connection with a private coining proposal, and should not be treated as a genuine Mint design variation. Buyers should understand this distinction before purchasing one.

Why does 1796 include both Liberty Cap and Draped Bust cents?

The Mint transitioned designs partway through 1796, so both types carry that date. The Liberty Cap type does not end at a clean calendar boundary the way it began.

What replaced the Liberty Cap cent?

The Draped Bust cent, designed by Robert Scot, replaced the Liberty Cap portrait in the middle of 1796 and continued through 1807.

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