Back in 1806 a change took place at the U.S. Mint in Philidelphia that would eventually create other changes at the mint. That first change involved the directorship of the mint. A new director, Robert Patterson, was given command of the Mint in 1806. Large, Copper cents struck by the Mint since its opening in 1793 underwent frequent design changes. Three major changes (Flowing Hair, Liberty Cap and Drapped Bust) occurred before cent coinage was even five years old, and lesser variations (Chain Reverse, Wreath Reverse, Starred Reverse, Lettered Edge, Gripped Edge, Comet Variety, Crosslet 4, etc.) took place with regularity within these basic types. A semblance of stability seemed to have been established when the Draped Bust design introduced in 1796, not only lasted through the turn of the new century, but actually completed 10 (1806) full years of production. All the previous designs were the work of mint's chief engraver, Robert Scot. Mint Director Patterson found no satisfaction in any of the previous designs. In fact, he was so adamant in his desire to create better looking coins he sent a letter to President Thomas Jefferson in March of 1807 suggesting that Scot's "advancing age" (he was then 62) made his "good health" doubtful. On that basis, he sought authorization to hire John Reich, a talented young engraver, to serve as Scot's assistant and redesign the coinage, arguing that "the beauty of our coins would be greatly improved by the assistance of his masterly hand." Predident Jefferson acceded, and on April 1 of that year, Patterson promoted Reich, then an unsung die-sinker at the Mint, to the post of second engraver. Mint Director Patterson commissioned new designs in 1807 to be ready for the 1808 coin issues. Reich's obverse design for the cent (and half cent) was a left-facing (drastic change) portrait of Liberty with curly hair, tied with a headband inscribed with LIBERTY. Miss Liberty is surrounded by 13 stars, seven to the left and six to the right, with the date below her. The coin's reverse carries the denomination, ONE CENT, within a continuous wreath. This, in turn, is encircled by the inscription UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. The term "Classic Head" is credited to Ebenezer Locke Mason Jr., who proposed it in his hobby periodical, "Mason's Coin and Stamp Collector's Magazine," in 1868. Before then, she was derogatively referred to as "the Blowsie Barmaid." During the mint's earling beginnings Copper planchets were supplied by the British firm of Boulton and Watt of London. Director Patterson wanted to impress President Jefferson so he ordered Boulton and Watt to supply planchets for the 1808 Large Cents in as pure a Copper composition as was possible (very few impurities). With the onsets of the French-Indian War and the War of 1812, this source dried up. Production of the new 1808 design began, with the striking of 1,007,000 pieces. A cent shortage developed the following year, however, when the Mint ran out of planchets and Director Patterson had to scrounge up low impurity Copper planchets wherever he could find them. Official mint records state that 222,867 cents were made in 1809, but further research shows about 50,000 cents minted in June of 1809 may have been struck with leftover 1808 dies. Cent production normalized the following year; in fact, 1810's output of 1,458,500 was the highest for the series. But fluctuations began again in 1811 when mintage plummeted to 218,025, the series' low point, rising sharply in 1812, then dropping again appreciably in 1813. After a final low-mintage year in 1814, the abbreviated series came to an end. In spite of Mint Director Patterson's desires and Reich's designing abilities Classic Head cents are relatively scarce in every collectable grade, but exceptionally so in mint condition. This is partly due to the unusual softness of those pure copper planchets, but also due to supply and demand: the large number of collectors pursuing the early coppers has always limited the number of choice pieces available for sale. Unfortunately, there have been no hoards discovered of any consequence. If you search the web, eBay, or coin periodicals, for Classic Head Large Cents you may find a few offered for sale in a grade of Good or Very Good accompanied with word "pourous." Another milestone for Patterson's reign at the mint is a severe shortage of Copper in 1815; the Mint produced no cents with that date-the only year missing from U.S. Cent coinage from 1793 through to today. In 1816, when production resumed, the cent bore Robert Scot's new "Matron Head" design. Today's high grade Large Cent "Classic Head'' collector is limited to the small number of specimens that very infrequently return to the fold following the surmise one of their own. Here's some photos of "Classic Head" Cents courtesy of Tom's Personal Large Cent Collection: http://www.largecents.net/collection/coinpics/s278.jpg http://www.largecents.net/collection/coinpics/s280.jpg http://www.largecents.net/collection/coinpics/s282.jpg http://www.largecents.net/collection/coinpics/s287.jpg http://www.largecents.net/collection/coinpics/s289.jpg http://www.largecents.net/collection/coinpics/s293.jpg 1814 Crosslet 4: http://www.largecents.net/collection/coinpics/s294.jpg 1814 Plain 4: http://www.largecents.net/collection/coinpics/s295.jpg Thought you might enjoy... Clinker
Another marvelous writeup. Thanks, Clinker ! One question regarding this excerpt : Yes, the cent moved to Scot's Matron Head design... but the half cent did not. Does anyone know why ? I'm told part of the issue was a bit of friction 'twixt Scot (The Old Master) and the upstart Reich. Perhaps Scot wasn't willing to cede his territory and asserted himself with his large cent design (thus displacing Reich). Breen's Half Cent book indicates their was some trouble between them, and Scot died before he could redesign the half cent.
But during those ten years there were two different heads and three different reverse types. There may have also been something of a personal financial reason. Reich had sold himself into indentured servitude in order to get passage to America. Patterson bought Reich's servitude contract. A good paying job would allow Paterson to get his money back quicker. It was also said that th model for the Classic head Liberty was Reich's "fat mistress". I have no idea if that is true or not. Boulton and Watt had been supplying copper planchets to the mint since 1797. The last of the planchets were used to strike the 1814 Classics. As soon as the War of 1812 ended (early 1815) the mint ordered more planchets from B&W but they did not arrive until December 1815. Production of 1816 Matron head cents began that month. The last year the mint had struck half cents was in 1811 and they were then out of planchets. But half cents were not in much demand and no more were needed until 1825. By that time Scot had died so they just continued using the old design. Mintages were small enough and infrequent enough that there was no real reason to create the tools for a new design. It remained that way until Gobrecht redesigned everything in the 1836 - 1840 period.
Hi mark_h: Always good to hear from those who read my posts. And, since this is your first comment on a post of mine, YOU MADE MY DAY! clinker
Thanks 900fine for the question on the 1/2 Cent of which I didn't realize AND thanks for sharing your knowledge... Clinker
Hey Condor101: Once, again, I have to thank you for sharing. As to Director Patterson wanted to impress President Jefferson so he ordered Boulton and Watt to supply planchets for the 1808 Large Cents in as pure a Copper composition as was possible (very few impurities). "Boulton and Watt had been supplying copper planchets to the mint since 1797." Yes, they did, but not in the fineness (purity). Thus the excessive wear on circulated coins. Clinker
great thread clinker. always enjoy anything there is to read concerning large cents. i tried to get myself an XF-AU classic head a little while back but most i saw were AU+ or VG and worse. those AU+ ones are not really in my price range.
Boulton and Watt processed the copper but they didn't do the smelting and refining of the copper. It may be a change or improvement had been made in the refining process by the producers, I don't know. I have never heard of any special request made by Patterson for an improvement of the purity. (The copper in the draped bust coins was already in the 99% pure range.) Do you know where I can find a copy of that request? I find nothing in the annual reports made to the President or Congress.
Conder101: Somehow, I prediscarded my research, so I can't answer your question, but somewhere in the cobwebs of my mind, I seem to recall seeing two references to the fewer impurities quest... sorry, Clinker
