One (1) cent coin, proof
United States, 1823
Obverse Image: Left-facing Liberty wearing a coronet. 13 stars along coin edge.
Obverse Text: LIBERTY / 1823
Reverse Image: Wreath.
Reverse Text: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA / ONE CENT
General Information: 1823 over 1822.
Robert Scot created these designs, which remained in use between 1816 and 1835.
Cents of this type are likely to have been seen by almost every collector for they are among the most common of early American coins. But this coin is not common. The year 1823 is one of the scarcer dates in the cent series. In addition, this coin is an "overdate." It was created from an earlier die (for 1822 cents) that was softened, redated for the current year, hardened, and put back into service. Overdates are quite common among early American coins, as a fledgling United States Mint tried to cut corners wherever it could.
Finally, this coin is a "proof." It was struck on a highly polished planchet (a disk of metal cut and prepared for striking as a coin) under far more exacting standards than ordinary coins. It has been estimated that only two other proof 1823/2 cents exist.
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