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The 1853 Liberty Head Large Cent is an old coin that was produced by the US Mint many, many years ago. Despite its age, the coin itself is one of the most sought after by collectors from the US and abroad. Being that the coins are so old, the quantity available is decreasing all the time. With that being said, there has never been a better time than now for you to get your hands on one.
On the obverse side of the coin, the center of the face is marked by the beautiful depiction of Lady Liberty. Lady Liberty has a band resting on her hear, and within that band the word “Liberty” is inscribed. Beneath the central image of Lady Liberty there is an inscription marking the 1853 year of minting. Arching overtop and almost completely encircling the central image exists 13 stars, each one representing one of the original 13 colonies of the United States.
On the coin’s reverse, the center of the face is dominated by an inscription marking the coin’s “One Cent” face value. Surrounding the central face value inscription is an ornate wreath, which is especially impressive when you consider the technology that existed when this coin was minted. Around the outside of all of this is one more inscription, this one reading “United States of America.” On both sides of the coin, the very outer edges of the coins are marked by raised rays, giving the coin a bit of added texture.
For collectors, the unfortunate fact of the matter is that there are unscrupulous folks out there who are passing off counterfeit Liberty Heads as the real thing. In order to protect themselves from this, collectors will only purchase those coins that have been both graded and certified as being authentic. Below, we have outlined the different coin grades as well as what they mean for the appearance of the Liberty Head Large Cent.
Uncirculated: If a coin is receiving of the Uncirculated grade, this means that the piece had never made it out onto the open market for circulation. Thanks to never having been circulated, these pieces will appear today in the exact same condition they were in when they were first minted.
Extremely Fine: A coin determined to be of Extremely Fine grade is one that will have a few minor flaws, but will not be heavily damaged at all. You will notice a few scratches and chips, but apart from those these coins will be in excellent shape.
Fine: Fine is the grade given to coins that have been circulated quite extensively, but have not been the recipient of too much damage. You will notice some light scratching and chipping on the surfaces of the coin, but none of that damage will be so severe that the surface imagery nor lettering will have been compromised.
Good: Good is the grade given to the coins that have been very heavily damaged. These pieces will be home to a lot of scratching and chipping. Sometimes, the damage present on the surfaces of these coins is so severe that some of the surface imagery and lettering will have been compromised.
When it comes to determining the price you might be asked to pay for a graded 1853 Liberty Head Large Cent, this is something that can most accurately be determined by the condition and grade of the coin. Naturally, the more well-preserved a coin is, the more expensive it is going to be. In addition to this, it also boils down to how many coins are available on the market for sale at any given time. The fewer coins there are for sale, the more expensive those coins are likely to be. Below, you will find a chart aimed at giving you a better idea of what you might expect to pay for a graded 1853 Liberty.
Large Cents
| DATE | GOOD | FINE | EXTREMELY FINE | UNCIRCULATED |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1853 Liberty Head | $20 | $30 | $65 | $125 | Source: Red Book |
