It’s hard to imagine, but when large copper cents were first struck, the U.S. had been minting coins for only 24 years. Now over a century and a half later, these half-dollar-size coins are revered by collectors.
When production of large cents resumed in 1816, after a one-year hiatus, the Coronet design was born. The obverse features the head of Liberty wearing a coronet, and 13 stars representing the original colonies. The reverse has a wreath surrounding the words one cent.