1876 Cent Patterns

About This Coin

Within the Metric & Stella Patterns (1874-1879) series, the 1876 cent patterns were produced at the Philadelphia Mint during America's centennial year — a time of national celebration, industrial exhibition at the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition, and active debate over coinage reform. The obverse features experimental designs exploring the adoption of a metric-based coinage system, while the series also encompasses the famous Stella ($4 gold piece) featuring Liberty with flowing hair or coiled hair. Designed by Charles E. Barber for the Flowing Hair version and George T. Morgan for the Coiled Hair variant, these patterns represented the cutting edge of Mint engraving talent during the 1870s. A notable auction result of $13K in PR50 grade at Stack's demonstrates that even modestly preserved examples command significant prices. The Metric & Stella program of 1874-1879 tested whether the United States should align its coinage with the international metric system, a proposal gaining traction during expanding global trade but unable to overcome congressional attachment to the existing dollar-cent system. The 1876 cent patterns capture both the experimental spirit of this reform movement and the patriotic energy of the nation's hundredth birthday, making them doubly appealing to collectors who value historical context alongside numismatic rarity.