1776 United States Cent Value
Expect a 1776 United States Cent to trade between about its melt value and well into four figures, driven almost entirely by grade. Certified examples in top grades can run far higher.
Public domain image (struck or printed before 1926). Click to enlarge.
1776 United States Cent value by grade
| Grade | Estimated value |
|---|
Estimated retail range. Estimates are modeled from mintage rarity and metal content, not auction records. Actual sale prices vary with certification, eye appeal and market timing.
Current 1776 United States Cent value
Pricing for the 1776 United States Cent depends on grade and current collector demand.
1776 United States Cent specifications
- Series
- United States Coinage
- Year
- 1776
- Mint mark
- None (Philadelphia)
- Mintage
- Not recorded
- Composition
- Copper
- Weight
- 5.98 g
- Diameter
- 30 mm
No mint mark? Here is why
Look for a letter and you will not find one. The 1776 United States Cent is a Philadelphia product, and the main mint did not sign its work at this time.
Why the 1776 United States Cent is worth money
Context adds the final layer to the 1776 United States Cent. Documented United States coin types preserved in museum collections, with measured specifications for each date, denomination and mint. Owning this date means owning a piece of that story, and demand for the series as a whole sustains liquidity for every issue in it.
The 1776 United States Cent lacks precise production records, so its value rests on demonstrated rarity: how often examples surface at auction and how they compare to documented specimens.
1776 United States Cent inscriptions & design
Obverse
MASSACHUSETTS STATE IC LM
pinetree
Reverse
LIBERTY AND VIRTVE 1776
liberty seated on globe, holding cap and staff (l.)
Measured 1776 United States Cent specimens
2 physically measured 1776 United States Cent examples in our reference database. Real measured weights and die axes let you authenticate a coin against the 5.98 g, 30 mm minting standard.
| Specimen | Weight | Diameter | Die axis | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1776 United States Cent #1 | 15.22 g | 32 mm | - | Breen.704 |
| 1776 United States Cent #2 | 5.98 g | 30 mm | - | Breen.704 (fake) |
Specifications compiled from documented museum specimens. See our data & methodology page.