Large cent "One C_NT".

I know this is often not discussed much due to the explicitness of the word. However I am wondering if anyone knows the history of this?

1 cent could buy a lot back then, so were they used in brothels?

Was it done as a joke? Was it done in later years (past 1900) or was it done back when they were used?

The reason I'm asking is because I see a lot of them. What are their proper names? Graffiti coin?

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cent_(currency)

 

post mint damage.

 

Someone bored defacing coins most likely.

One cent has NEVER had enough purchasing power for use in those establishments. Not even the first cent in 1793.

Proper name would be damaged. Graffiti would be writing in the fields.

 

Hmm... fill in the blank!

 

The coins were changed (damaged) back in the day to reflect the verbage your referring to.. Yes its PMD.. the stories I have heard over the years is that they were indeed tried (used) in brothels much like the Racketeer Nickels were used as $5 gold pieces. Whatever it takes to fool the unknowing.. You have to remember that they didn't have the internet, or a way of communication that could keep the Brothel owners up to speed on anything. Heck ask Doug I bet he was around when they had them in circulation and perhaps he even tried to redeem one or twenty of them.. (I am ducking now)

 

Boy the owners would have to be stupid. Would they really think the mint would make a coin that was good for one free.....

 

I really don't know but question if that word was even being used in those days.

 

The history is that some smart aleck altered the E in CENT. Only a fool would think it real. Nobody would accept it for what you presume it would have been used for. PS google works wonders - try it sometime

 

Wikipedia says it was 1st used in the 13th century.

 

these are quite common art work... i have bought a couple of these

i always think that these were made by civil war troops .... bored and talkin
about girls and having one of these large cents in their pockets ..just passing time
with a pocket knife

 

I have a half cent it's been done to. What would that be good for?

Somewhere I have or had a picture of a MS 50% off-center 1854 in a PCGS slab that had been vulgared in that manner.

Usually you see these on large cents but I have seen them on Indian heads and even wheat cents. I have also seen flying eagle cents where the eagle has been altered into a flying ...well let's not go there.

 

It can make it look like that when the E in cent is worn just right

 

I bought one (1848) at a flea market about 15 years ago. I didn't notice it until I got it home. It says ONE C*NT. I thought that it might a love token? ...I still have it.