Draped Bust Large Cents

The Draped Bust Large Cent replaced the earlier Flowing Hair design in 1796 and remained in production through 1807. This type features a more elegant portrait of Liberty with flowing hair and drapery at the neckline, paired with either the Small Date/Small Letters style of the late 1790s or the later Heraldic Eagle reverse introduced in 1798. Mintages throughout the series were generally modest, and many dates are difficult to locate in high grades due to heavy circulation and the soft copper planchets of the era. Collectors often note 1799 as one of the key dates in the series, making the Draped Bust Large Cent an important and challenging early U.S. type.