Design and Specifications of the Coronet Head Cent

The Coronet Head Cent, also known as the Matron Head Cent, was introduced in 1816 following a two-year gap in cent production due to the War of 1812. This series marked a return to a more classical design after the previous Draped Bust and Classic Head cents. It was designed by Robert Scot and later modified by John Reich, representing an important transitional period in early American coinage.
Weight 10.89 grams
Diameter 28-29 mm
Mint Marks None (all minted in Philadelphia)
Composition 100% copper
Obverse Design Left-facing profile of Liberty wearing a coronet inscribed with 'LIBERTY'
Reverse Design A wreath surrounding the words 'ONE CENT' and the denomination '1/100'
Years of Minting 1816-1839

Collectibility and Rare Varieties

The condition of Coronet Head Cents significantly impacts their value, with uncirculated examples being extremely rare for most dates. Key varieties, such as the 1835 Head of 1836, can command substantial premiums. Additionally, the series is known for various die cracks and errors, which can further increase a coin’s rarity and value, especially for earlier dates in the series.
1821 389,000 minted; considered scarce in all grades
1823 1,262,000 minted; scarce in higher grades
1827 2,357,000 minted; rare in uncirculated condition
1835 Head of 1836 Low mintage variety; highly sought after by collectors

Explore Coronet Head Cent Values by Year

1816 1817 1818 1819 1820 1821 1822 1823 1824 1825 1826 1827 1828 1829 1830 1831 1832 1833 1834 1835 1836 1837 1838 1839

Most Valuable Coronet Head Cent

This section highlights the most valuable coins in the series, based on PCGS price guides. The table shows price ranges for each coin in various conditions.

Coin Name Circulated Price Uncirculated Price
1838 Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $20.00 – $435.00 –
1831 Penny Large Letters, BN (Regular Strike) $26.00 – $715.00 –
1837 Penny Beaded Cords, BN (Regular Strike) $20.00 – $450.00 –
1817 Penny 15 Stars, BN (Regular Strike) $36.00 – $4,750.00 –
1819/(8) Penny Large Date, BN (Regular Strike) $24.00 – $825.00 –
1835 Penny Large 8, Stars, BN (Regular Strike) $20.00 – $1,850.00 –
1818 Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $30.00 – $635.00 –
1817 Penny 13 Stars, BN (Regular Strike) $28.00 – $1,000.00 –
1828 Penny Large Narrow Date, BN (Regular Strike) $25.00 – $1,350.00 –
1816 Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $25.00 – $875.00 –
1827 Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $35.00 – $1,650.00 –
1839 Penny Silly Head, BN (Regular Strike) $20.00 – $1,000.00 –
1823 Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $55.00 – $40,000.00 –
1826 Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $30.00 – $1,625.00 –
1830 Penny Medium Letters, BN (Regular Strike) $60.00 – $10,750.00 –
1836 Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $20.00 – $600.00 –
1820 Penny Large Date, BN (Regular Strike) $22.00 – $460.00 –
1839 Penny Booby Head, BN (Regular Strike) $26.00 – $875.00 –
1838 Penny, BN (Proof) – $11,000.00 – $45,000.00
1822 Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $35.00 – $1,800.00 –
1824 Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $22.00 – $3,600.00 –
1834 Penny Large 8, Large Stars, Med. Let., BN (Regular Strike) $150.00 – $9,850.00 –
1820 Penny N-13 Large Date, BN (Regular Strike) $20.00 – $425.00 –
1837 Penny, BN (Proof) – $35,000.00 – $75,000.00
1819 Penny Small Date, BN (Regular Strike) $18.00 – $1,200.00 –
1829 Penny Large Letters, BN (Regular Strike) $20.00 – $2,050.00 –
1832 Penny Large Letters, BN (Regular Strike) $24.00 – $750.00 –
1833 Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $25.00 – $550.00 –
1825 Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $30.00 – $2,050.00 –
1822 Penny Newcomb 3, BN (Regular Strike) $35.00 – $1,750.00 –
1823/2 Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $75.00 – $17,000.00 –
1831 Penny Medium Letters, BN (Regular Strike) $32.00 – $850.00 –
1821 Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $30.00 – $8,500.00 –
1835 Penny Small 8, Stars, BN (Regular Strike) $20.00 – $1,150.00 –
1830 Penny Large Letters, BN (Regular Strike) $20.00 – $850.00 –
1824/2 Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $20.00 – $9,350.00 –
1828 Penny Small Wide Date, BN (Regular Strike) $35.00 – $2,050.00 –
1831 Penny Large Letters, RB (Regular Strike) – $800.00 – $21,500.00
1829 Penny Medium Letters, BN (Regular Strike) $70.00 – $8,250.00 –
1827 Penny Newcomb 11, BN (Regular Strike) $40.00 – $1,550.00 –
1820 Penny Small Date, BN (Regular Strike) $35.00 – $1,600.00 –
1834 Penny Small 8, BN (Regular Strike) $25.00 – $725.00 –
1837 Penny Plain Cords, Medium Letters, BN (Regular Strike) $20.00 – $540.00 –
1839 Penny Booby Head, RD (Regular Strike) – $5,000.00 – $28,000.00
1826/5 Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $50.00 – $5,850.00 –
1818 Penny Newcomb 1, BN (Regular Strike) $35.00 – $575.00 –
1825 Penny Newcomb 5, BN (Regular Strike) $3,300.00 – $7,500.00 –
1833 Penny, RB (Regular Strike) $625.00 –
1834 Penny N-5 Lg 8 Lg St Med Lt, BN (Regular Strike) $250.00 – $9,500.00 –
1839 Penny Silly Head, RD (Regular Strike) – $55,000.00
1832 Penny Medium Letters, BN (Regular Strike) $32.00 – $975.00 –
1816 Penny Newcomb 1, BN (Regular Strike) $2,000.00 – $10,000.00 –
1818 Penny Newcomb 7, BN (Regular Strike) $35.00 – $575.00 –
1835 Penny N-19 Head of 1836, BN (Regular Strike) $1,950.00 –
1819/8 Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $40.00 – $1,350.00 –
1820/19 Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $35.00 – $2,100.00 –
1823 Penny Private Restrike, BN (Regular Strike) $200.00 – $1,375.00 –
1823 Penny Private Restrike Silver (Regular Strike) – $15,000.00 – $21,000.00
1834 Penny Lg 8, Sm Stars, Med Let, BN (Regular Strike) $32.00 – $850.00 –
1834 Penny Lg 8 Sm Stars Med Let, RB (Regular Strike) – $1,000.00 – $12,000.00
1834 Penny Lg 8 Lg Stars Med Let, RB (Regular Strike) – $80,000.00
1834 Penny Large Letter Reverse, BN (Regular Strike) $60.00 – $2,500.00 –
1835 Penny Head of 1836, BN (Regular Strike) $25.00 – $1,050.00 –
1837 Penny Plain Cords, Small Letters, BN (Regular Strike) $20.00 – $725.00 –
1839 Penny Head of 1838, BN (Regular Strike) $20.00 – $590.00 –
1839/6 Penny, BN (Regular Strike) $325.00 – $65,000.00 –
1817 Penny, BN (Proof) – $40,000.00 – $67,500.00
1819/8 Penny, BN (Proof) – $30,000.00
1821 Penny, BN (Proof) – $18,500.00 – $82,000.00
1822 Penny, BN (Proof) – $20,000.00 – $50,000.00
1823/2 Penny, BN (Proof) – $30,000.00 – $60,000.00
1827 Penny, BN (Proof) – $15,000.00 – $33,000.00
1829 Penny Bronzed (Proof) – $36,000.00 – $52,500.00
1829 Penny, RB (Proof) – $8,500.00 – $53,500.00
1830 Penny, BN (Proof) – $31,500.00 – $75,000.00
1831 Penny, BN (Proof) – $17,500.00 – $80,000.00
1832 Penny, BN (Proof) – $19,000.00 – $48,500.00
1834 Penny, BN (Proof) – $45,000.00 – $85,000.00
1836 Penny, BN (Proof) – $30,000.00
1816 Penny, RB (Regular Strike) – $1,000.00 – $10,000.00
1816 Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $6,000.00 – $20,000.00
1816 Penny Newcomb 2, BN (Regular Strike) $30.00 – $625.00 –
1816 Penny Newcomb 2, RB (Regular Strike) – $2,000.00 – $10,000.00
1816 Penny Newcomb 2, RD (Regular Strike) – $25,000.00
1816 Penny Newcomb 3, BN (Regular Strike) – $6,250.00
1816 Penny Newcomb 4, BN (Regular Strike) $45.00 – $1,500.00 –
1816 Penny Newcomb 5, BN (Regular Strike) – $1,350.00 – $5,250.00
1816 Penny Newcomb 5, RB (Regular Strike) – $5,000.00 – $10,500.00
1816 Penny Newcomb 6, BN (Regular Strike) $45.00 – $650.00 –
1816 Penny Newcomb 7, BN (Regular Strike) $50.00 – $600.00 –
1816 Penny Newcomb 8, BN (Regular Strike) $55.00 – $1,250.00 –
1816 Penny Newcomb 8, RB (Regular Strike) – $7,000.00
1816 Penny Newcomb 9, BN (Regular Strike) $60.00 – $825.00 –
1816 Penny Newcomb 9, RB (Regular Strike) – $3,250.00 – $16,000.00
1817 Penny 13 Stars, RB (Regular Strike) – $1,100.00 – $5,500.00
1817 Penny 13 Stars, RD (Regular Strike) – $2,750.00 – $7,250.00
1817 Penny 15 Stars, RB (Regular Strike) – $65,000.00
1817 Penny Newcomb 1, BN (Regular Strike) $2,500.00 –
1817 Penny Newcomb 2, BN (Regular Strike) $50.00 – $840.00 –
1817 Penny Newcomb 3, BN (Regular Strike) $35.00 – $925.00 –
1817 Penny Newcomb 4, BN (Regular Strike) $65.00 – $750.00 –
1817 Penny Newcomb 5, BN (Regular Strike) – $1,600.00 – $2,000.00
1817 Penny Newcomb 6, BN (Regular Strike) $35.00 – $825.00 –
1817 Penny Newcomb 7, BN (Regular Strike) $1,500.00 –
1817 Penny Newcomb 8, BN (Regular Strike) $35.00 – $825.00 –
1817 Penny Newcomb 9, BN (Regular Strike) $35.00 – $825.00 –
1817 Penny Newcomb 9, RB (Regular Strike) – $4,500.00
1817 Penny Newcomb 10, BN (Regular Strike) $35.00 – $825.00 –
1817 Penny Newcomb 11, BN (Regular Strike) $35.00 – $825.00 –
1817 Penny Newcomb 12, BN (Regular Strike) $1,100.00 –
1817 Penny Newcomb 13, BN (Regular Strike) $35.00 – $825.00 –
1817 Penny Newcomb 13, RB (Regular Strike) – $3,000.00
1817 Penny Newcomb 14, BN (Regular Strike) $30.00 – $825.00 –
1817 Penny Newcomb 14, RB (Regular Strike) – $1,600.00 – $2,150.00
1817 Penny Newcomb 15, BN (Regular Strike) $1,000.00 – $3,000.00 –
1817 Penny Newcomb 17, BN (Regular Strike) $2,200.00 – $10,000.00 –
1817 Penny N-16, 15 Stars, BN (Regular Strike) $50.00 – $4,500.00 –
1818 Penny, RB (Regular Strike) – $675.00 – $14,000.00
1818 Penny, RD (Regular Strike) – $675.00 – $25,000.00
1818 Penny Newcomb 2, BN (Regular Strike) $750.00 – $2,000.00 –
1818 Penny Newcomb 3, BN (Regular Strike) $325.00 – $550.00 –
1818 Penny Newcomb 4, BN (Regular Strike) $1,200.00 – $45,000.00 –

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Chris McPherson is a lifelong collector turned shop owner who opened ChrisMcPherson's Souvenir Shop in 2005. With over 20 years as a professional antique dealer and appraiser, Chris expertly curates a selection of the most unique political, pop culture, and historic collectibles available. His passion is hunting one-of-a-kind artifacts and sharing the fascinating stories behind them. Chris graduated with a BA in American History, informing his specialty in political memorabilia. As a seasoned antique hunter, Chris utilizes his skills to deliver an ever-changing inventory of must-see relics and conversation pieces to his shop.

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