The 1793 Chain Cent: America's First Circulating Coin

The Coin That Started It All

The 1793 Chain Cent holds a unique place in numismatics — it was the first coin struck for general circulation at the newly established Philadelphia Mint. And it immediately caused a scandal.

The reverse featured a chain of 15 links representing the 15 states of the Union. Critics immediately attacked the design, claiming the chain suggested slavery rather than unity. The backlash was so swift that the Mint replaced it within months with the Wreath Cent, and then the Liberty Cap design.

Even well-worn Chain Cents command five figures today. The entire 1793 cent production — Chain, Wreath, and Liberty Cap varieties combined — represents the Mint's first fumbling steps toward establishing a national coinage.

Large cents ran all the way to 1857, spanning five major design types across 64 years. The Sheldon variety system for early dates and Newcomb numbers for the later Matron and Braided Hair types make this one of the deepest die variety series in all of numismatics.

Let's Hear From You

• What's your earliest large cent? How did you acquire it?
• Do you collect by Sheldon or Newcomb number, or are you a type collector?
• What's the most underrated date in the large cent series?
• Have you ever found a large cent in the wild — at a flea market, estate sale, or in a junk box?