1783 Washington & Independence - Large Bust Cent

Coin Details

Auction Record

$3,600 • AU55 • 01-2009 • Heritage Auctions

Description

Featuring a noticeably larger portrait of Washington than the standard draped bust types, this 1783 cent is cataloged as Baker 1, Musante GW-103, and Whitman 10300. The Large Bust variety uses a distinct obverse die with a more prominent, larger-scale portrait filling a greater proportion of the die field, giving Washington's features a bolder presence. The reverse shows a wreath enclosing ONE CENT. Manufactured in Birmingham, England — the center of late-eighteenth-century token production — these tokens satisfied demand for coins featuring the enormously popular American general. The Baker 1 designation places this as the first entry in W.S. Baker's landmark 1885 reference "Medallic Portraits of Washington." While scarce, the Large Bust is less common than the Draped Bust types, which were produced in larger quantities. The bold portrait has made this a favorite among collectors who prize visual impact. These tokens circulated alongside British halfpence, state coppers, and various tokens as practical small-change currency in the pre-federal-mint era.

Rarity Notes

Scarce. The Large Bust is less common than the draped bust types.

Cross References

Baker 1; Musante GW-103; Whitman 10300