1796 Liberty Cap Cent
Base
About This Coin
The 1796 Liberty Cap Cent is a United States cent from the Liberty Cap Cents 1793-1796 series — the final year of the series. In 1796, coins were struck at the Philadelphia Mint with a combined mintage of 109,825. This represents the second-lowest annual mintage in the series, below the series median of 324,172. The obverse features Liberty facing right with a Phrygian cap on a pole behind her head, symbolizing freedom and the reverse displays a wreath enclosing ONE CENT and 1/100 of a dollar. Final year of the Liberty Cap design, replaced by the Draped Bust type. The 1796 is a scarce last-year issue. Struck in copper, weighing 10.89 grams, 28 mm in diameter, with a plain edge. Collectors have identified 2 known die varieties for this date, including cud. Across its variants, estimated values range from $859 to $828K depending on mint mark, grade, and strike type. A notable auction result reached $207K in MS66 grade at Goldberg Auctioneers. Designed by Robert Scot.
Value Estimates
Values as of May 2026 — range across all strike types, reflecting typical grades (G-4 through MS-63). Coins in lower or exceptional grades may fall outside this range.
Specifications
Strike Types & Varieties(1)
Other Base Coins in This Series
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