1778 United States Cent Value
A 1778 United States Cent is worth roughly its melt value to well into four figures depending on its condition. Certified examples in top grades can run far higher.
1778 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.
How much is a 1778 United States Cent worth today?
Pricing for the 1778 United States Cent depends on grade and current collector demand.
1778 United States Cent specifications
- Series
- United States Coinage
- Year
- 1778
- Mint mark
- None (Philadelphia)
- Mintage
- Not recorded
- Composition
- Copper
- Weight
- 12.047 g
No mint mark? Here is why
The 1778 United States Cent was struck at the Philadelphia Mint, which used no mint mark in this era. If you find no letter where branch-mint coins carry one (check the usual position for this series), you are holding a Philadelphia issue.
What makes the 1778 United States Cent valuable
Documented examples of the 1778 United States Cent in our reference database anchor what we know about this issue. Mintage records are incomplete, so collector demand and surviving population drive its market.
Few series carry the following that supports the 1778 United States Cent. Documented United States coin types preserved in museum collections, with measured specifications for each date, denomination and mint. A coin that thousands of collectors are actively assembling into sets never lacks for a market.
1778 United States Cent inscriptions & design
Obverse
NON DEPENDENS STATUS
Draped bust facing right. Designs on shoulder and breast
Reverse
AMERICA 1778
Indian seated facing left, left hand on shield and right hand holding bunch of taabacco upright
Measured 1778 United States Cent specimens
6 physically measured 1778 United States Cent examples in our reference database. Real measured weights and die axes let you authenticate a coin against the 12.047 g, mm minting standard.
| Specimen | Weight | Diameter | Die axis | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1778 United States Cent #1 | 12.8 g | - | 12 h | Crosby, pg 306, fig 50 |
| 1778 United States Cent #2 | 12.335 g | - | 12 h | Crosby, pg 306, fig 50 |
| 1778 United States Cent #3 | 12.275 g | - | 12 h | Crosby, pg 306, fig 50 |
| 1778 United States Cent #4 | 12.047 g | - | 12 h | Crosby, pg 306, fig 50 |
| 1778 United States Cent #5 | 10.728 g | - | 12 h | Crosby, pg 306, fig 50 |
| 1778 United States Cent #6 | 11.373 g | - | 12 h | Crosby, pg 306, fig 50 |
Specifications compiled from documented museum specimens. See our data & methodology page.