Price Guide for 1796 Cent Variants
This guide presents price ranges for variants from three sources: eBay sales, third-party auctions, and PCGS guides. Values are shown for various conditions, allowing collectors to compare across different market segments. Price estimates may vary between sources, especially for rarer variants.
1796 Penny Liberty Cap, BN (Regular Strike)
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $10.75 – $43,125.00Uncirculated: $8,050.00 – $207,000.00
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eBayCirculated: $20.50 – $4,495.00
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PCGS Price GuideCirculated: $235.00 – $35,500.00Uncirculated: $37,000.00 – $260,000.00
1796 Penny LIHERTY, BN (Regular Strike)
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $180.00 – $80,500.00
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eBayCirculated: $40.00 – $1,650.00Uncirculated: $299.75
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PCGS Price GuideCirculated: $600.00 – $56,500.00Uncirculated: $60,000.00 – $150,000.00
1796 Penny Draped, Reverse of 1794, BN (Regular Strike)
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $81.00 – $40,250.00Uncirculated: $8,050.00 – $10,350.00
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eBayCirculated: $141.19 – $2,051.00
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PCGS Price GuideCirculated: $285.00 – $43,500.00Uncirculated: $47,500.00 – $330,000.00
1796 Penny Draped, Reverse of 1795, BN (Regular Strike)
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $59.00 – $32,200.00Uncirculated: $12,925.00 – $54,625.00
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eBayCirculated: $58.89 – $3,150.00
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PCGS Price GuideCirculated: $225.00 – $31,500.00Uncirculated: $33,500.00 – $150,000.00
1796 Penny Draped, Reverse of 1797, BN (Regular Strike)
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $111.63 – $33,350.00Uncirculated: $4,600.00 – $32,200.00
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eBayCirculated: $85.00 – $3,395.00
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PCGS Price GuideCirculated: $300.00 – $14,250.00Uncirculated: $15,000.00 – $57,500.00
1796 Penny Liberty Cap, RB (Regular Strike)
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $332.00 – $460.00Uncirculated: $20,900.00 – $690,000.00
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PCGS Price GuideUncirculated: $55,000.00 – $710,000.00
1796 Penny S-81 Liberty Cap, BN (Regular Strike)
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $144.00 – $19,975.00Uncirculated: $27,025.00 – $47,000.00
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eBayCirculated: $149.25 – $522.00
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PCGS Price GuideCirculated: $450.00 – $32,500.00Uncirculated: $90,000.00
1796 Penny Sheldon 82, BN (Regular Strike)
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $104.00 – $31,200.00Uncirculated: $22,800.00
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eBayCirculated: $227.53 – $600.00Uncirculated: $89.88
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PCGS Price GuideCirculated: $450.00 – $12,000.00
1796 Penny S-83 Liberty Cap, BN (Regular Strike)
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $228.00 – $30,000.00Uncirculated: $39,600.00 – $47,000.00
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PCGS Price GuideCirculated: $450.00 – $16,000.00Uncirculated: $45,000.00
1796 Penny S-84 Liberty Cap, BN (Regular Strike)
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $132.00 – $10,575.00Uncirculated: $23,500.00 – $82,250.00
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eBayCirculated: $500.00 – $1,010.10
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PCGS Price GuideCirculated: $450.00 – $16,000.00Uncirculated: $39,500.00 – $135,000.00
1796 Penny S-84 Liberty Cap, RB (Regular Strike)
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3rd Party PriceUncirculated: $141,000.00 – $705,000.00
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PCGS Price GuideUncirculated: $152,500.00 – $725,000.00
1796 Penny S-85 Liberty Cap, BN (Regular Strike)
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $132.00 – $18,975.00Uncirculated: $47,000.00
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eBayCirculated: $375.00 – $1,076.30
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PCGS Price GuideUncirculated: $50,000.00
1796 Penny S-86 Liberty Cap, BN (Regular Strike)
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $186.00 – $9,400.00Uncirculated: $33,600.00 – $38,187.50
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eBayCirculated: $650.00
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PCGS Price GuideUncirculated: $50,000.00
1796 Penny S-87 Liberty Cap, BN (Regular Strike)
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $120.00 – $19,388.00Uncirculated: $28,200.00 – $30,000.00
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eBayCirculated: $202.50 – $425.00
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PCGS Price GuideCirculated: $335.00 – $32,500.00Uncirculated: $45,000.00
1796 Penny S-88 Liberty Cap, BN (Regular Strike)
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $144.00 – $19,550.00Uncirculated: $38,400.00 – $58,750.00
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eBayCirculated: $599.00 – $850.00
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PCGS Price GuideCirculated: $450.00 – $16,000.00
1796 Penny S-89 Liberty Cap, BN (Regular Strike)
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $122.40 – $15,863.00
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eBayCirculated: $82.00 – $961.19
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PCGS Price GuideCirculated: $450.00 – $16,000.00
1796 Penny S-90 Liberty Cap, BN (Regular Strike)
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $120.00 – $12,925.00Uncirculated: $38,187.50 – $52,800.00
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eBayCirculated: $650.00
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PCGS Price GuideCirculated: $34,500.00Uncirculated: $95,000.00
1796 Penny S-91 Liberty Cap, BN (Regular Strike)
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $156.00 – $34,075.00Uncirculated: $223,250.00
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eBayCirculated: $265.00 – $795.00
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PCGS Price GuideCirculated: $235.00 – $37,000.00Uncirculated: $260,000.00
1796 Penny Draped, Reverse of 1794, RB (Regular Strike)
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $230.00 – $8,338.00
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PCGS Price GuideUncirculated: $250,000.00
1796 Penny Draped, Reverse of 1795, RB (Regular Strike)
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3rd Party PriceUncirculated: $115,000.00 – $235,000.00
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PCGS Price GuideUncirculated: $85,000.00 – $275,000.00
1796 Penny Draped, Reverse of 1795, RD (Regular Strike)
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $299.00 – $322.00
1796 Penny Draped, Reverse of 1797, RB (Regular Strike)
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3rd Party PriceUncirculated: $15,525.00
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PCGS Price GuideUncirculated: $27,500.00
1796 Penny LIHERTY, RB (Regular Strike)
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eBayUncirculated: $152.50
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PCGS Price GuideUncirculated: $140,000.00
1796 Penny S-92, BN (Regular Strike)
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $150.00 – $20,400.00Uncirculated: $25,850.00 – $75,000.00
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eBayCirculated: $500.00
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PCGS Price GuideCirculated: $550.00 – $27,500.00Uncirculated: $125,000.00
1796 Penny S-92, RB (Regular Strike)
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $276.00
1796 Penny S-93, BN (Regular Strike)
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $114.00 – $32,200.00Uncirculated: $36,000.00 – $91,062.50
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eBayCirculated: $158.50 – $435.00
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PCGS Price GuideCirculated: $550.00 – $31,000.00Uncirculated: $65,000.00 – $75,000.00
1796 Penny S-93, RB (Regular Strike)
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $219.00Uncirculated: $152,750.00 – $180,000.00
1796 Penny S-95, BN (Regular Strike)
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $312.00 – $28,200.00
1796 Penny S-96, BN (Regular Strike)
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $4,935.00 – $21,850.00
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PCGS Price GuideUncirculated: $95,000.00
1796 Penny S-97, BN (Regular Strike)
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $104.00 – $11,456.00
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PCGS Price GuideCirculated: $550.00 – $10,000.00
1796 Penny S-98, BN (Regular Strike)
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $184.00 – $25,850.00Uncirculated: $50,400.00
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PCGS Price GuideCirculated: $550.00 – $5,000.00
1796 Penny S-99 (Regular Strike)
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $180.00
1796 Penny S-99, BN (Regular Strike)
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $228.00 – $23,000.00
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eBayCirculated: $550.00 – $646.00
1796 Penny S-116, BN (Regular Strike)
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $173.00 – $6,900.00
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eBayCirculated: $381.00 – $722.00
1796 Penny NC-2, BN (Regular Strike)
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $1,080.00 – $30,550.00
1796 Penny NC-4, BN (Regular Strike)
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $720.00 – $32,900.00
1796 Penny S-101, BN (Regular Strike)
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $98.00 – $30,550.00Uncirculated: $38,400.00
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PCGS Price GuideCirculated: $650.00 – $32,500.00
1796 Penny S-102, BN (Regular Strike)
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $150.00 – $20,700.00
1796 Penny S-106, BN (Regular Strike)
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $156.00 – $17,038.00Uncirculated: $48,000.00 – $50,400.00
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eBayCirculated: $324.99 – $700.30
1796 Penny S-107, BN (Regular Strike)
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $437.00 – $3,600.00
1796 Penny S-108, BN (Regular Strike)
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $75.00 – $5,520.00Uncirculated: $31,725.00 – $36,000.00
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eBayCirculated: $202.72 – $800.00
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PCGS Price GuideCirculated: $525.00 – $11,000.00Uncirculated: $41,500.00
1796 Penny S-109, BN (Regular Strike)
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $265.00 – $52,900.00Uncirculated: $9,000.00
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eBayCirculated: $800.00
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PCGS Price GuideCirculated: $650.00 – $40,000.00
1796 Penny S-110, BN (Regular Strike)
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $111.63 – $20,700.00Uncirculated: $36,000.00 – $329,000.00
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eBayCirculated: $295.00 – $493.00
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PCGS Price GuideCirculated: $500.00 – $40,000.00Uncirculated: $54,500.00 – $350,000.00
1796 Penny S-111, BN (Regular Strike)
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $299.00 – $57,600.00
1796 Penny S-112, BN (Regular Strike)
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $228.00 – $32,400.00Uncirculated: $43,475.00 – $60,000.00
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eBayCirculated: $608.00
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PCGS Price GuideUncirculated: $47,500.00
1796 Penny NC-5, BN (Regular Strike)
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $1,800.00 – $15,275.00
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eBayCirculated: $250.00
1796 Penny S-94, BN (Regular Strike)
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $168.00 – $24,150.00
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eBayCirculated: $345.00 – $910.00
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PCGS Price GuideCirculated: $5,500.00
1796 Penny S-94, RD (Regular Strike)
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $4,888.00
1796 Penny S-100, BN (Regular Strike)
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $144.00 – $26,400.00
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eBayCirculated: $664.99
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PCGS Price GuideCirculated: $20,500.00
1796 Penny S-105, BN (Regular Strike)
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $89.00 – $9,488.00
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PCGS Price GuideCirculated: $340.00 – $6,000.00
1796 Penny S-113, BN (Regular Strike)
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $174.00 – $25,300.00
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PCGS Price GuideCirculated: $19,000.00
1796 Penny S-114, BN (Regular Strike)
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $204.00 – $33,350.00
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eBayCirculated: $555.55
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PCGS Price GuideCirculated: $20,000.00
1796 Penny S-114, RB (Regular Strike)
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $604.00
1796 Penny S-114, RD (Regular Strike)
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $504.00
1796 Penny S-115, BN (Regular Strike)
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $109.00 – $12,650.00
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eBayCirculated: $200.01
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PCGS Price GuideCirculated: $325.00 – $15,000.00
1796 Penny S-117, BN (Regular Strike)
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $192.00 – $31,200.00Uncirculated: $28,200.00
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eBayCirculated: $460.77 – $735.00
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PCGS Price GuideCirculated: $23,500.00
1796 Penny S-118, BN (Regular Strike)
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $312.00 – $27,600.00
1796 Penny S-119, BN (Regular Strike)
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $184.00 – $11,500.00Uncirculated: $2,200.00 – $49,350.00
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eBayCirculated: $290.00
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PCGS Price GuideCirculated: $600.00 – $14,250.00Uncirculated: $15,000.00 – $50,000.00
1796 Penny NC-1, BN (Regular Strike)
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $660.00 – $14,100.00
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PCGS Price GuideCirculated: $6,000.00 – $15,000.00
1796 Penny NC-3, BN (Regular Strike)
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $1,440.00 – $24,150.00
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eBayCirculated: $775.00 – $995.00
1796 Penny S-103, LIHERTY, BN (Regular Strike)
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $240.00 – $51,700.00Uncirculated: $144,000.00
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eBayCirculated: $3,650.00
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PCGS Price GuideCirculated: $750.00 – $50,000.00Uncirculated: $145,000.00
1796 Penny S-104, LIHERTY, BN (Regular Strike)
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $228.00 – $30,000.00
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eBayCirculated: $176.50 – $1,549.99Uncirculated: $112.50
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PCGS Price GuideCirculated: $600.00 – $14,500.00
Design and Specifications of the 1796 Cent
The 1796 Cent, also known as the Liberty Cap Large Cent, is a significant early American coin. It represents one of the first years of regular coinage production by the newly established United States Mint. This year saw the transition from the Liberty Cap to the Draped Bust design, making it a pivotal year for numismatists and historians alike.
| Weight | 10.89 grams |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 29 mm |
| Mint Marks | None (all minted in Philadelphia) |
| Composition | 100% Copper |
| Obverse Design | Liberty Bust facing right, designed by Robert Scot |
| Reverse Design | Wreath with 'ONE CENT' inside, designed by Robert Scot |
Rarity Factors and Value Drivers
Condition is crucial for 1796 Cents. High-grade specimens are extremely rare and command significant premiums. Even in lower grades, these coins are highly sought after.
The quality of the strike can vary considerably, affecting the coin’s value. Well-struck examples with full details are particularly desirable. Original red color is extremely rare and highly prized in uncirculated specimens.
Philadelphia, No Mint Mark
Mintage: 363,375
Rarity Scale: Rare
Circulation Status: Limited Circulation
Preservation Rarity: Extremely rare in grades MS65 and above
Varieties Errors: Liberty Cap and Draped Bust varieties, With and Without Pole varieties
Market Demand: High, due to historical importance and rarity
Variety is a major factor in determining the value of 1796 Cents. The Liberty Cap and Draped Bust designs from this year are both collectible, with the Liberty Cap being rarer. The ‘With Pole’ and ‘Without Pole’ varieties of the Liberty Cap design also affect value significantly.
Historical significance plays a large role in the coin’s desirability. As one of the earliest cents produced by the U.S. Mint, it holds special appeal for collectors of early American coinage.
The presence of any original mint luster can greatly increase value, as can attractive, natural toning. Conversely, environmental damage, cleaning, or other impairments can significantly reduce value.
This article originally appeared on Coins-value.com: 1796 Cent Value: Mint Varieties, Rarity, And Current Prices
