Coronet Head cents carry the large-cent format from 1816 through 1839, with changing portrait hubs, date punches, star counts, cords, and letter sizes forming the specialist structure.

This guide covers Philadelphia issues dated 1816–1839, preserving the catalog's Matron, modified-head, overdate, star-count, cord, and letter subtypes.

Core specifications

Issue period
1816–1839
Catalog mints
1
Reported catalog mintage
62,823,073
Composition
100% Copper
Diameter
28.5 mm
Weight
10.89 g

A long copper sequence hidden inside one catalog type

Large-cent production resumed in 1816 with a coronet portrait commonly grouped under the Matron Head name.

Successive hub and punch changes altered Liberty's profile, hair cords, stars, dates, and reverse lettering. The basic date run is only the first layer of this long Philadelphia series.

Obverse, reverse, and the details that identify the type

Confirm the major design, date, and mint mark before studying smaller die differences.

The main portrait and date

Liberty faces left wearing a coronet inscribed LIBERTY; portrait form, hair cords, star count, and date punches vary.

Denomination, subject, and mint mark

A wreath surrounds ONE CENT, with UNITED STATES OF AMERICA around the rim and 1/100 below.

Where the cataloged coins were made

Totals are calculated from reported issue records in this catalog; unknown figures are not counted as zero.

  • P — Philadelphia: 1816, 1817, 1818, 1819, 1820, 1821, 1822, 1823, 1824, 1825, 1826, 1827, 1828, 1829, 1830, 1831, 1832, 1833, 1834, 1835, 1836, 1837, 1838, 1839; 62,823,073. Philadelphia issues commonly carry no P mint mark in classic series; confirm the expected blank area rather than searching for a letter.

Representative issues that explain the series

Begin with one well-centered date, then choose a date set or a portrait-head study rather than trying every minor die combination at once.

  • 1817 P - 15 Stars — N/A. Open the issue page and read this record together with its type, mint, finish, and grade context.
  • 1821 P — 389,000. Open the issue page and read this record together with its type, mint, finish, and grade context.
  • 1823 P - 3 Over 2 — N/A. Open the issue page and read this record together with its type, mint, finish, and grade context.
  • 1836 P — 2,111,000. Open the issue page and read this record together with its type, mint, finish, and grade context.
  • 1839 P - Booby Head — N/A. Open the issue page and read this record together with its type, mint, finish, and grade context.

Issue catalog

1816 P Coronet Head Cent1817 P Coronet Head Cent - All Varieties1817 P Coronet Head Cent - 13 Stars1817 P Coronet Head Cent - 15 Stars1818 P Coronet Head Cent1819 P Coronet Head Cent - All Varieties1819 P Coronet Head Cent - 9 Over 81819 P Coronet Head Cent - Large Date1819 P Coronet Head Cent - Small Date1820 P Coronet Head Cent - All Varieties1820 P Coronet Head Cent - 20 Over 191820 P Coronet Head Cent - Large Date1820 P Coronet Head Cent - Small Date1821 P Coronet Head Cent1822 P Coronet Head Cent1823 P Coronet Head Cent - Normal Date1823 P Coronet Head Cent - 3 Over 21823 P Coronet Head Cent - Unoffical Restrike - Broken Die1824 P Coronet Head Cent - All Varieties1824 P Coronet Head Cent - Normal Date1824 P Coronet Head Cent - 4 Over 21825 P Coronet Head Cent1826 P Coronet Head Cent - All Varieties1826 P Coronet Head Cent - Normal Date1826 P Coronet Head Cent - 6 Over 51827 P Coronet Head Cent1828 P Coronet Head Cent - All Varieties1828 P Coronet Head Cent - Large Narrow Date1828 P Coronet Head Cent - Small Wide Date1829 P Coronet Head Cent - All Varieties1829 P Coronet Head Cent - Large Letters1829 P Coronet Head Cent - Medium Letters1830 P Coronet Head Cent - All Varieties1830 P Coronet Head Cent - Large Letters1830 P Coronet Head Cent - Medium Letters1831 P Coronet Head Cent - All Varieties1831 P Coronet Head Cent - Large Letters1831 P Coronet Head Cent - Medium Letters1832 P Coronet Head Cent - All Varieties1832 P Coronet Head Cent - Large Letters1832 P Coronet Head Cent - Medium Letters1833 P Coronet Head Cent1834 P Coronet Head Cent - All Varieties1834 P Coronet Head Cent - Large 8 - Small Stars - Medium Letters1834 P Coronet Head Cent - Large 8 - Large Stars - Medium Letters1834 P Coronet Head Cent - Large 8 - Large Stars - Large Letters1834 P Coronet Head Cent - Small 8 - Large Stars - Medium Letters1835 P Coronet Head Cent - All Varieties1835 P Coronet Head Cent - Head of 18361835 P Coronet Head Cent - Large 8 and Stars1835 P Coronet Head Cent - Small 8 and Stars1836 P Coronet Head Cent1837 P Coronet Head Cent - All Varieties1837 P Coronet Head Cent - Plain Cord - Small Letters1837 P Coronet Head Cent - Plain Cord - Medium Letters1837 P Coronet Head Cent - Head of 18381838 P Coronet Head Cent1839 P Coronet Head Cent - All Varieties1839 P Coronet Head Cent - 9 Over 6 - Plain Cords1839 P Coronet Head Cent - Head of 1838 - Beaded Cords1839 P Coronet Head Cent - Silly Head1839 P Coronet Head Cent - Booby Head

From one type coin to a complete catalog

  • One representative coin: Choose one problem-free, readable example and learn the size, edge, and major design.
  • Major-type set: Use one coin per major design to show changes in artwork, composition, or production.
  • Dates and mints: Work through the issue catalog by date and mint, defining special finishes separately.

A note on catalog records

This page uses 62 issue records, 0 modeled varieties, and currently reported mintages; unknown values remain unknown.

Sources

  1. History of U.S. Circulating Coins — United States Mint
  2. Penny: Designs and History — United States Mint
  3. Coronet Head Cent category reference — PCGS CoinFacts