Coronet Cent
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Spanning 1816 to 1839, the Coronet Cent catalog contains 49 year-and-mintmark variants. Across the series, the key date is the 1821 Coronet Cent at just 389,000 struck and the highest-value variant is the 1817 Coronet Cent at up to $80,000 in top grade.
Coronet Cent Mintage by Year
Peak 6.4MCombined mintage per year across every strike type (circulated, proof, and specimen) and all mintmarks.
About the Coronet Cent
The Coronet Cent is a type of cent (1 cent) issued by the United States from 1816-1839. During this time, the Coronet head design, featuring Lady Liberty, became the iconic image for this popular coin.
The Coronet Cent was designed by Robert Scot and was popular in the United States due to its simple design. Lady Liberty was depicted on the faceside of the coin, showing her facing right with an unflowing diadem-style headdress and no stars, while the reverse side of the coin featured a wreath of laurel tied at the bottom with a bow. The original design featured a rod passing through a snake’s mouth in the wreath on the reverse but it was changed in 1837 to a simpler “closed” wreath.
The Coronet Cent was a popular coin due to its size and stability. Since it was composed of 89.2% copper and 10.8% nickel, it was very strong and easy to store. The metal content in the coin stayed steady from its release in 1816 through its retirement in 1839, providing a user-friendly format for investments in the quickly changing environment of U.S. finance.
The Coronet Cent is an important reflection of United States history, and still retains its recognition today due to its timeless design. Its importance and popularity have made it a widely sought after collectible, with some rare varieties commanding huge sums. The 1816 Coronet Cent is the earliest and rarest of the design and was given a Proof-66 grading by the Numismatic Guaranty Corporation, while the 1839 Coronet Cent is scarce in all grades but especially so above Very Fine.
For collectors and investors alike, the Coronet Cent remains an iconic coin and a true testament to the strength and history of the United States.
Most-collected Coronet Cent coins on LuckyCoin
Looking for coins from a specific year across every denomination? Browse US coin values by year →
Which Coronet Cent coins do collectors actually own? See the 2026 rarity & ownership report →
Frequently Asked Questions
- When was the Coronet Cent minted?
- The Coronet Cent was minted by United States from 1816 to 1839.
- How many Coronet Cent coins were minted?
- Across every year and mintmark, approximately 62,823,073 Coronet Cent coins were struck.
- What is the Coronet Cent made of?
- The Coronet Cent is made of copper, weighs 10.89 grams, and measures 28.5 mm in diameter.
- How much is a Coronet Cent worth?
- Value depends on year, mintmark, and condition. Common dates in average circulated condition trade for near face value, while the rarest varieties in top grade can fetch up to $80,000. See individual year pages for grade-by-grade estimates.