Classic Head on:
[Wikipedia]
[Google]
[Amazon]
The Classic Head was a coin design issued by the
/ref>
The Classic Head was a coin design issued by the United States Mint
The United States Mint is a bureau of the United States Department of the Treasury, Department of the Treasury responsible for producing coinage for the United States to conduct its trade and commerce, as well as controlling the movement of bull ...
in the early 19th century. It was introduced for copper coinage in 1808 by engraver John Reich and later redesigned by Chief Engraver William Kneass.Guide to U.S. Classic Head Large Cents, ''classicheadcent.com''/ref>
Dates minted
* (John Reich) Half cents: 1809 to 1836 * (John Reich) Large cents: 1808 until 1815 * (William Kneass) Quarter eagle: 1834 to 1839 * (William Kneass) Half eagle: 1834 to 1837Description
The short-lived Classic Head (or as some collectors called it, "Turban Head") interpretation ofLiberty
Liberty is the state of being free within society from oppressive restrictions imposed by authority on one's way of life, behavior, or political views. The concept of liberty can vary depending on perspective and context. In the Constitutional ...
was designed by John Reich for use on the half cent and the large cent
The United States large cent was a coin with a face value of of a United States dollar. Its nominal diameter was 1 inch (28.57 mm). The first official mintage of the large cent was in 1793, and its production continued until 1857, when it ...
; however, the design used on the silver and gold coins was developed by William Kneass. The Classic Head depicted Liberty with long, curly hair. The reverse designed by John Reich depicted the coin's denomination and value inside a wreath.
Kneass's design, however, scaled down the design so it would fit on smaller coins and then added a heraldic eagle on the reverse, substituting the simple design by John Reich. A similar design on gold coinage kept the name "Classic Head", but only retained the curly hair. The head was completely redesigned by William Kneass, and featured a traditional maiden with a ribbon binding her long, curly hair.
This variety omitted "E pluribus unum
''E pluribus unum'' ( , , ) – Latin for "Out of many, one" (also translated as "One out of many") – is a traditional motto of the United States, appearing on the Great Seal of the United States, Great Seal along with ''Annuit cœptis'' (L ...
" from the reverse of the coin. In 1840, a smaller head was designed to conform with the appearance of the larger gold coins, therefore making the Classic Head design obsolete. The new Classic Head design was produced from 1834 to 1839.
The Classic Head variety was usually preceded by the Draped Bust design and followed by the Matron Head liberty on copper coinage.
Usage
The design was used for the following coins: * Half cent *Large cent
The United States large cent was a coin with a face value of of a United States dollar. Its nominal diameter was 1 inch (28.57 mm). The first official mintage of the large cent was in 1793, and its production continued until 1857, when it ...
* Quarter eagle
The quarter eagle is a gold coin that was issued by the United States with a value of two hundred and fifty cents, or two dollars and fifty cents. It was given its name in the Coinage Act of 1792, as a derivation from the US ten-dollar Eagle (U ...
* Half eagle
The half eagle is a United States coin that was produced for circulation from 1795 to 1929 and in commemorative and bullion coins since 1983. Composed almost entirely of gold, its face value of five dollars is half that of the eagle coin. Pr ...
See also
* Classic Head quarter eagleReferences
Sources
* R.S. Yeoman, '' A Guide Book of United States Coins'' 2009 Edition. {{Coinage (United States) 1808 introductions Coins of the United States Goddess of Liberty on coins