# Chain cent > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Chain_cent > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Chain_cent.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chain_cent > Source revision: 1347974676 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|First circulating coin produced by the US Mint}} {{Infobox Coin |Country=United states |Denomination=Flowing Hair large cent, chain reverse |Value=0.01 U.S. Dollar |Mass=13.48 |Diameter_inch= |Diameter=26–27 |Thickness_inch= |Thickness= |Edge=Decorated with bars and vines |Composition=100% [Cu](/source/Copper) |Years of Minting=1793 |Mint marks=None, all large cents were minted at the [Philadelphia Mint](/source/Philadelphia_Mint) |Catalog Number= |Obverse=File:NNC-US-1793-1C-Flowing Hair Cent (chain) (obverse).jpg |Obverse Design=[Liberty](/source/Liberty_(goddess)) ([Breen](/source/Walter_H._Breen) obverse 3 shown) |Obverse Designer=[Henry Voigt](/source/Henry_Voigt) (supposedly) |Obverse Design Date=1793 |Reverse=File:NNC-US-1793-1C-Flowing Hair Cent (chain) (reverse).jpg |Reverse Design=Chain (Breen reverse B shown) |Reverse Designer=[Henry Voigt](/source/Henry_Voigt) (supposedly) |Reverse Design Date=1793 }} The '''chain cent''' was [America](/source/United_States)'s first [large cent](/source/Large_cent_(U.S._coin)) and the first circulating coin officially produced by the [United States Mint](/source/United_States_Mint).{{citation |url=http://www.usmint.gov/historianscorner/index.cfm?action=timeline |title=The United States Mint Historian's Corner |publisher=The United States Mint}} It was struck only during 1793.{{citation |url=http://www.coinfacts.com/large_cents/1793_chain_cents/1793_chain_cents.html |title=1793 Chain Cents |publisher=Collectors Universe, Inc.}}{{citation |url=http://www.coinfacts.com/large_cents/1793_chain_cents/1793_large_cents_by_variety.htm |title=1793 Chain Cent Varieties |publisher=Collectors Universe, Inc.}} It was not the first circulating coin produced by the United States, which was the [Fugio](/source/Fugio_Cent) cent of 1787 (also known as the Franklin cent), based on the [Continental dollar](/source/Continental_dollar). As with the Fugio cent, the Chain cent was made of copper and featured a chain symbolizing the linking together of the states of the United States. ==Obverse design== The [obverse](/source/Obverse_and_reverse) design consisted of a stylized [Liberty](/source/Liberty_(goddess)) head with flowing hair, similar to that on the [1792 half disme](/source/1792_half_disme) but facing right. The inscription "LIBERTY" appeared above the portrait, and the date below. ==Reverse design== The [reverse](/source/Obverse_and_reverse)'s central design figure, for which the coin is named, is an interlocking [chain](/source/Link_chain) with 15 links, representing the fifteen [American states](/source/American_states) in the Union at that time (the original [Thirteen Colonies](/source/Thirteen_Colonies), [Vermont](/source/Vermont) and [Kentucky](/source/Kentucky)). Both the words "ONE CENT" and the fraction {{Sfrac|1|100}} appear within the chain. Along the outer edge is inscribed "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA". On the first working [die](/source/Die_(manufacturing)), the engraver failed to allow adequate room for the entire inscription, and it had to be abbreviated to "UNITED STATES OF AMERI.". These early dies were cut by hand, rather than being made from [master hubs](/source/Coining_(mint)) as is the practice today. (It is also said that the abbreviation was ordered by Mint Director [David Rittenhouse](/source/David_Rittenhouse) in an attempt to "balance" the designs of the obverse and reverse).{{cite news |last1=Julian |first1=R. W. |title=Mottos on United States Coinage |work=[Numismatic News](/source/Numismatic_News) |volume=70|issue=26 |publisher=Active Interest Media |date=October 12, 2021}} ==Edge== The edge of these coins is decorated with bars and vines with leaves.{{cite web |title=Type 1, Chain Cent |url=https://www.pcgs.com/coinfacts/category/half-cents/flowing-hair-large-cent/type-1-chain-cent-1793/656 |website=pcgs.com |publisher=Collectors Universe, Inc. |access-date=17 December 2023}} ==Public reaction== Chain cents were struck during late February and early March 1793; records indicate that approximately 36,103 were produced. However, the public reaction to the coins was largely unfavorable. One newspaper criticized the appearance of the Liberty head, saying that it appeared to be "in a fright". And, while the reverse chain had been intended to symbolize the unity of the newly formed Union (similar iconography had been utilized on the reverse of the earlier [Fugio Cent](/source/Fugio_Cent) and Revolutionary War era [Continental currency](/source/Continental_currency)), many commentators instead interpreted it as representative of [slavery](/source/History_of_slavery_in_the_United_States). By March, the Mint had run out of [planchet](/source/planchet)s, which temporarily halted striking. During this time, a new design – the [Wreath cent](/source/Wreath_cent) – was quickly prepared and approved.{{Citation needed|date=December 2023}} ==Collecting== As a one-year only type coin and the first [business strike](/source/business_strike) cent, the Chain cent has always been in demand, both by collectors of large cents, as well as type collectors.{{cite book |last1=Thorne |first1=Mike |title=Collect All 17 U.S. Cent Types |date=January 2019 |publisher=Coins Magazine (Krause Publications)}} Struck for about two weeks from late February until early March 1793, only about 1,000 coins are known to exist today, and even coins in the lowest grades still sell for thousands of dollars.{{cite web |last1=Spurrier |first1=Lianna |title=CoinWeek IQ: A Breakdown of Flowing Hair Large Cents |url=https://coinweek.com/us-coins/coinweek-iq-a-breakdown-of-flowing-hair-large-cents/ |website=CoinWeek.com |publisher=CoinWeek, LLC. |accessdate=16 January 2020}} ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== {{Portal|Money|Numismatics|United States}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20060902021411/http://www.collectorusa.com/articles/1793.php The First Cent Coinage] * [http://www.chron.com/news/article/1793-penny-fetches-1-38M-at-Fla-auction-2448303.php Chain cent sold at auction] * [https://onlinecoin.club/Coins/Country/United_States/One_Cent_1793_Chain/ One Cent 1793 Flowing Hair, Chain Reverse] Detailed information, photos of varieties. {{s-start}} {{s-bef | before = [Fugio cent](/source/Fugio_Cent) }} {{s-ttl | title = [United States one-cent coin](/source/Cent_(United_States_coin)) | years = (1793) }} {{s-aft | after = [Wreath cent](/source/Wreath_cent) }} {{end}} {{United States circulating coinage}}{{Coinage (United States)}} Category:1790s introductions Category:1793 beginnings Category:One-cent coins of the United States Category:Goddess of Liberty on coins --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Chain cent](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chain_cent) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chain_cent?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.