Half Cent

The Liberty Cap (facing right) design appears on half cent and large cent coins between 1793 and 1797. The coins feature an image of the goddess of Liberty and her accompanying Phrygian cap.

The Mint created this design in an attempt to satisfy the public objections to the Chain cent and Wreath cent. It appears to have been a little more successful than its precedents, as it was continued into 1797, unlike the previous two issues, which were issued for one year only. In 1795, the planchets became too thin for the use of edge lettering on the coins, so coins from late-1795 onward have no edge lettering.

The large head version was designed (possibly) by Joseph Wright and the small head version designed by John SMith Gardner. Both versions were engraved by Robert Scot.