1816 1c Coronet Large Cent – NGC MS63, Newcomb-2
1816 is the first year of the Coronet design type by Robert Scot in large cent series, encompassing the period from 1816 to 1839. Researcher Howard Newcomb published an extensive analysis of the cents from this period. The British blockade during the War of 1812 had cut off supplies of copper to the newly established United States and led to the scarcity in the Classic Head cent series that preceded this issuance.
1816 is the only year that the U.S. Mint issued just one denomination – the cent. No other denomination was issued this year. As a result an U.S. Mint set for this year comprises just this one coin. This year us seen as a rare event that has never been repeated.
It is believed that mint state coins exist because of the discovery of the Randall Hoard which contained this date. This example is free of the dark spot mottling that afflicts most high grade examples of this date. Indeed a treasure for any numismatists as the Nation was rising out of a brutal war that saw the burning of the White House and the Battle of New Orleans.
