1838 Philadelphia Matron / Coronet Head Large Cent – Early American Copper

Product Overview

Add a stunning piece of pre-Victorian American history to your collection with this 1838 Philadelphia Mint Matron Head (Coronet Head) Large Cent. Struck during the Van Buren administration, this large copper cent captures an era of craftsmanship when US coinage was transitioning toward a more modern aesthetic.

Featuring Christian Gobrecht’s classic mid-1830s design modifications—which gave Lady Liberty a slightly younger, refreshed profile—this coin is a must-have for type collectors and fans of early US numismatics.

Key Features & Specifications

• Year of Issue: 1838

• Mint Facility: Philadelphia (No mint mark, as was standard for the era)

• Designer: Christian Gobrecht (after Robert Scot)

• Composition: Pure Copper

• Diameter: Approx. 29 mm

• Edge: Plain

Design Highlights

• Obverse: Features the left-facing "Matron Head" style of Liberty wearing a coronet inscribed with the word LIBERTY, encircled by 13 stars representing the original colonies and the 1838 date.

• Reverse: Displays the denomination ONE CENT enclosed within a detailed laurel wreath (often called the "Christmas wreath"), surrounded by the legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

Historical Significance

With a total mintage of 6,370,200, the 1838 large cent was produced in relatively high numbers for the era, yet finding them with strong details, pleasing surfaces, and honest surfaces has become increasingly difficult as collectors scoop them up for type sets. Because they were struck on heavy, pure copper planchets, they offer an impressive tactile connection to the everyday commerce of antebellum America.

Collector Note: (Insert your specific grade, condition notes, or certification details here, e.g., "This specimen exhibits honest circulation wear with clear design details, lovely chocolate-brown surfaces, and a strong strike.")