Design and Specifications of the Flowing Hair Large Cent

The Flowing Hair Large Cent was the first cent coin issued by the United States Mint. It marked the beginning of regular coinage for the new nation and played a crucial role in establishing a standardized currency system. The design faced criticism, leading to changes in subsequent years.
Weight 13.48 grams
Diameter 27-29 mm
Mint Marks None (all minted in Philadelphia)
Composition 100% Copper
Obverse Design Liberty with flowing hair, facing right
Reverse Design Chain of 15 links (1793) or Wreath (1793-1796)
Years of Minting 1793-1796

Collectibility and Rare Varieties

Condition is crucial for Flowing Hair Large Cents, as many have not survived in high grades. Varieties such as the 1793 ‘Strawberry Leaf’ and ‘Button’ cents are extremely rare and valuable. The 1793 Chain Cent, being the first official cent, is particularly desirable to collectors regardless of condition.
1794 918,521 minted; scarce
1795 501,500 minted; scarce
1796 109,825 minted; rare
1793 Chain Cent 36,103 minted; extremely rare and valuable
1793 Wreath Cent 63,353 minted; very rare

Explore Flowing Hair Large Cent Values by Year

1793 1794 1795 1796

Most Valuable Flowing Hair Large Cent

This section highlights the most valuable coins in the series, based on PCGS price guides. The table shows price ranges for each coin in various conditions.

Coin Name Circulated Price Uncirculated Price
1793 Penny Wreath, Strawberry Leaf, BN (Regular Strike) $350,000.00 – $775,000.00 –
1795 Penny Plain Edge, BN (Regular Strike) $260.00 – $10,500.00 –
1793 Penny Chain, America, BN (Regular Strike) $3,500.00 – $210,000.00 –
1794 Penny Head of 1794, BN (Regular Strike) $250.00 – $22,500.00 –
1793 Penny Chain, AMERI., BN (Regular Strike) $3,450.00 – $435,000.00 –
1793 Penny Liberty Cap, BN (Regular Strike) $3,600.00 – $950,000.00 –
1796 Penny Liberty Cap, BN (Regular Strike) $235.00 – $35,500.00 –
1793 Penny Wreath, Vine and Bars, BN (Regular Strike) $1,050.00 – $62,000.00 –
1794 Penny Head of 1795, BN (Regular Strike) $325.00 – $18,250.00 –
1795 Penny Reeded Edge, BN (Regular Strike) $90,000.00 – $1,265,000.00 –
1793 Penny Wreath, Lettered Edge, BN (Regular Strike) $1,100.00 – $77,500.00 –
1793 Penny Liberty Cap, S-13, BN (Regular Strike) $5,750.00 – $950,000.00 –
1794 Penny S-70 Head of 1795, BN (Regular Strike) $500.00 – $18,000.00 –
1794 Penny Head of 1793, BN (Regular Strike) $750.00 – $145,000.00 –
1793 Penny Liberty Cap, S-14, BN (Regular Strike) $2,750.00 – $325,000.00 –
1793 Penny Chain, Periods, BN (Regular Strike) $2,750.00 – $260,000.00 –
1794 Penny Starred Reverse, BN (Regular Strike) $13,500.00 – $632,500.00 –
1794 Penny No Fraction Bar, BN (Regular Strike) $450.00 – $43,500.00 –
1795 Penny Lettered Edge, BN (Regular Strike) $275.00 – $18,250.00 –
1795 Penny Jefferson Head, Plain Edge, BN (Regular Strike) $20,000.00 – $300,000.00 –
1795 Penny Jeff Head, Let Edge, BN (Regular Strike) $55,000.00 – $425,000.00 –
1793 Penny Chain, America, RB (Regular Strike) – $1,100,000.00
1793 Penny Chain, AMERI., S-1, BN (Regular Strike) $3,450.00 – $425,000.00 –
1793 Penny Chain, S-2, BN (Regular Strike) $3,150.00 – $210,000.00 –
1793 Penny Chain, S-3, BN (Regular Strike) $3,150.00 – $220,000.00 –
1793 Penny Chain, S-3, RB (Regular Strike) – $1,100,000.00
1793 Penny Wreath, Vine and Bars, RB (Regular Strike) – $225,000.00 – $650,000.00
1793 Penny Wreath, S-5, BN (Regular Strike) $2,000.00 – $65,000.00 –
1793 Penny Wreath, S-6, BN (Regular Strike) $700.00 – $45,000.00 –
1793 Penny Wreath, S-8, BN (Regular Strike) $1,250.00 – $62,000.00 –
1793 Penny Wreath, S-9, BN (Regular Strike) $850.00 – $60,000.00 –
1793 Penny Wreath, S-9, RB (Regular Strike) – $650,000.00
1793 Penny Wreath, S-10, BN (Regular Strike) $2,850.00 – $28,500.00 –
1793 Penny Wreath, S-11a, BN (Regular Strike) $3,150.00 – $57,500.00 –
1793 Penny Wreath, S-11b, BN (Regular Strike) $2,150.00 – $77,500.00 –
1793 Penny Wreath, S-11c, BN (Regular Strike) $1,100.00 – $78,500.00 –
1793 Penny Strawberry Leaf, NC-3, BN (Regular Strike) $400,000.00 – $775,000.00 –
1793 Penny Liberty Cap, S-12, BN (Regular Strike) $1,850.00 – $85,000.00 –
1793 Penny Liberty Cap, S-16, BN (Regular Strike) $111,625.00 –
1794 Penny Head of 1794, RB (Regular Strike) – $65,000.00 – $500,000.00
1794 Penny Head of 1795, RB (Regular Strike) – $27,500.00 – $500,000.00
1794 Penny No Fraction Bar, RB (Regular Strike) – $225,000.00
1794 Penny S-17a Wide Straight Date Head of 1793, BN (Regular Strike) $3,000.00 – $50,000.00 –
1794 Penny S-17b/NC-4 Head of '93, BN (Regular Strike) $30,000.00 –
1794 Penny Head of 1793 S-18b Double Chin, BN (Regular Strike) $4,250.00 – $175,000.00 –
1794 Penny Head of 1793 S-19a Double Chin, BN (Regular Strike) $1,600.00 – $31,000.00 –
1794 Penny Head of 1793 S-19b Double Chin, BN (Regular Strike) $4,250.00 – $82,500.00 –
1794 Penny S-20b Head of 1793, BN (Regular Strike) $1,500.00 – $58,500.00 –
1794 Penny Head of 1793 S-20a (formerly NC-7), BN (Regular Strike) $30,000.00 –
1794 Penny S-67 Roman Plicae Head of 1795, BN (Regular Strike) $500.00 – $2,750.00 –
1794 Penny S-68 Bisecting Die Crack Head of 1795, BN (Regular Strike) $6,000.00 – $18,500.00 –
1794 Penny S-69 Head of 1795, BN (Regular Strike) $500.00 – $10,000.00 –
1794 Penny S-69 Head of 1795, RB (Regular Strike) – $200,000.00 – $210,000.00
1794 Penny S-71 Head of 1795, BN (Regular Strike) $335.00 – $18,000.00 –
1794 Penny S-71 Head of 1795, RB (Regular Strike) – $200,000.00
1794 Penny S-72 Head of 1795, BN (Regular Strike) $335.00 – $13,500.00 –
1794 Penny S-48 Starred Reverse, BN (Regular Strike) $13,500.00 – $632,500.00 –
1795 Penny Lettered Edge, RB (Regular Strike) – $24,000.00 – $200,000.00
1795 Penny Plain Edge, RB (Regular Strike) – $70,000.00 – $100,000.00
1795 Penny S-74 Lettered Edge, BN (Regular Strike) $265.00 – $14,000.00 –
1795 Penny S-74 Lettered Edge, RB (Regular Strike) – $250,000.00 – $275,000.00
1795 Penny S-75 Lettered Edge, BN (Regular Strike) $355.00 – $16,000.00 –
1795 Penny S-75 Lettered Edge, RB (Regular Strike) – $250,000.00 – $275,000.00
1795 Penny S-76a Lettered Edge, BN (Regular Strike) – $100,000.00
1795 Penny S-76b Plain Edge, BN (Regular Strike) $235.00 – $10,250.00 –
1795 Penny S-76b Plain Edge, RB (Regular Strike) – $90,000.00
1795 Penny S-78 Plain Edge, BN (Regular Strike) $235.00 – $10,250.00 –
1795 Penny S-79 Reeded Edge, BN (Regular Strike) $225,000.00 – $1,265,000.00 –
1795 Penny Jefferson Head, Plain Edge Sheldon 80, BN (Regular Strike) $20,000.00 – $250,000.00 –
1796 Penny Liberty Cap, RB (Regular Strike) – $55,000.00 – $710,000.00
1796 Penny S-81 Liberty Cap, BN (Regular Strike) $450.00 – $32,500.00 –
1796 Penny Sheldon 82, BN (Regular Strike) $450.00 – $12,000.00 –
1796 Penny S-83 Liberty Cap, BN (Regular Strike) $450.00 – $16,000.00 –
1796 Penny S-84 Liberty Cap, BN (Regular Strike) $450.00 – $16,000.00 –
1796 Penny S-84 Liberty Cap, RB (Regular Strike) – $152,500.00 – $725,000.00
1796 Penny S-85 Liberty Cap, BN (Regular Strike) – $50,000.00
1796 Penny S-86 Liberty Cap, BN (Regular Strike) – $50,000.00
1796 Penny S-87 Liberty Cap, BN (Regular Strike) $335.00 – $32,500.00 –
1796 Penny S-88 Liberty Cap, BN (Regular Strike) $450.00 – $16,000.00 –
1796 Penny S-89 Liberty Cap, BN (Regular Strike) $450.00 – $16,000.00 –
1796 Penny S-90 Liberty Cap, BN (Regular Strike) $34,500.00 –
1796 Penny S-91 Liberty Cap, BN (Regular Strike) $235.00 – $37,000.00 –
1794 Penny Head of 1794 S-21 Flat Pole, BN (Regular Strike) $500.00 – $26,500.00 –
1794 Penny Head of 1794 S-22 Bent Lock, BN (Regular Strike) $250.00 – $12,500.00 –
1794 Penny Head of 1794 S-23 Shattered Obverse, BN (Regular Strike) $1,600.00 – $20,000.00 –
1794 Penny Head of 1794 S-24 Apple Cheek, BN (Regular Strike) $375.00 – $14,500.00 –
1794 Penny S-24 Head of 1794, RB (Regular Strike) – $475,000.00
1794 Penny Head of 1794 S-26 Severed Locks, BN (Regular Strike) $485.00 – $18,500.00 –
1794 Penny S-28 Ornate Head, BN (Regular Strike) $485.00 – $18,500.00 –
1794 Penny Head of 1794 S-29 Ornate Head, BN (Regular Strike) $485.00 – $17,500.00 –
1794 Penny S-30 Marred Field, BN (Regular Strike) $485.00 – $18,500.00 –
1794 Penny S-31, Marred Field, BN (Regular Strike) $375.00 – $17,500.00 –
1794 Penny S-32, Venus Marina, BN (Regular Strike) $485.00 – $17,500.00 –
1794 Penny Head of 1794 S-33 Wheel Spoke, BN (Regular Strike) $8,000.00 – $22,500.00 –
1794 Penny S-34 Head of 1794, BN (Regular Strike) $30,000.00 –
1794 Penny S-35 Head of 1794, BN (Regular Strike) $28,500.00 –
1794 Penny S-37, Steigerwalt Variety, BN (Regular Strike) $77,500.00 – $110,000.00 –
1794 Penny S-38, Marred Field, BN (Regular Strike) $45,000.00 –
1794 Penny S-39, Marred Field, BN (Regular Strike) $30,000.00 – $75,000.00 –
1794 Penny S-40, BN (Regular Strike) – $94,000.00
1794 Penny S-41 Abrupt Hair, BN (Regular Strike) $375.00 – $13,000.00 –
1794 Penny S-43 Short Bust, BN (Regular Strike) $375.00 – $20,000.00 –
1794 Penny S-44, Short Bust, BN (Regular Strike) $375.00 – $17,500.00 –
1794 Penny S-45 The Plicae, BN (Regular Strike) – $55,000.00
1794 Penny S-46 The Plicae, Crossed E, BN (Regular Strike) $5,500.00 –
1794 Penny S-47 Short Bust, BN (Regular Strike) $17,500.00 –
1794 Penny S-49, BN (Regular Strike) $375.00 – $17,500.00 –
1794 Penny S-50 Closed Wreath Young Head, BN (Regular Strike) $6,500.00 –
1794 Penny S-51 Long Locks, BN (Regular Strike) $12,500.00 – $15,500.00 –
1794 Penny S-53 Severed Locks, BN (Regular Strike) $3,300.00 –
1794 Penny S-54 Closed Wreath Slanting 7, BN (Regular Strike) $20,000.00 –
1794 Penny S-55 Big Berries, BN (Regular Strike) $250.00 – $18,500.00 –
1794 Penny S-56 Closed Wreath Office Boy Reverse, BN (Regular Strike) $250.00 – $6,250.00 –
1794 Penny S-57 Pyramidal Hair, BN (Regular Strike) $375.00 – $17,500.00 –
1794 Penny S-58, Many-Haired, BN (Regular Strike) $485.00 – $6,250.00 –
1794 Penny S-59, Many-Haired, BN (Regular Strike) $7,000.00 – $10,500.00 –
1794 Penny S-60, Patagonian, BN (Regular Strike) $485.00 – $18,500.00 –
1794 Penny S-61 Patagonian, BN (Regular Strike) $3,600.00 –
1794 Penny S-62, Trephined Head, BN (Regular Strike) $965.00 – $5,250.00 –
1794 Penny Sheldon 63, Fallen 4, BN (Regular Strike) $535.00 – $40,000.00 –
1794 Penny S-65 Shielded Hair, BN (Regular Strike) $375.00 – $12,500.00 –
1794 Penny S-66, Split Pole, BN (Regular Strike) $13,500.00 –
1794 Penny S-NC-1 Head of 1794, BN (Regular Strike) $13,000.00 –
1794 Penny S-NC-2 Head of 1794, BN (Regular Strike) $55,000.00 –
1794 Penny S-NC-5 Head of 1794, BN (Regular Strike) $28,200.00 –
1794 Penny S-NC-6 Head of 1794, BN (Regular Strike) $15,275.00 – $70,500.00 –
1794 Penny S-NC-9 Head of 1794, BN (Regular Strike) $1,250.00 –
1794 Penny S-NC-10 Head of 1794, BN (Regular Strike) $150,000.00 –
1794 Penny S-NC-11 Head of 1794, BN (Regular Strike) $22,500.00 –
1794 Penny S-64 No Fraction Bar, BN (Regular Strike) $8,000.00 – $35,000.00 –
1794 Penny S-64 No Fraction Bar, RB (Regular Strike) – $381,875.00
1793 Penny Chain, Periods, S-4, BN (Regular Strike) $2,400.00 – $260,000.00 –

Sharing is caring!

Chris McPherson is a lifelong collector turned shop owner who opened ChrisMcPherson's Souvenir Shop in 2005. With over 20 years as a professional antique dealer and appraiser, Chris expertly curates a selection of the most unique political, pop culture, and historic collectibles available. His passion is hunting one-of-a-kind artifacts and sharing the fascinating stories behind them. Chris graduated with a BA in American History, informing his specialty in political memorabilia. As a seasoned antique hunter, Chris utilizes his skills to deliver an ever-changing inventory of must-see relics and conversation pieces to his shop.

Similar Posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *