1791 United States Cent Value
A 1791 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.
1791 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.
Today's value of the 1791 United States Cent
The market for the 1791 United States Cent is driven by condition above all.
1791 United States Cent specifications
- Series
- United States Coinage
- Year
- 1791
- Mint mark
- None (Philadelphia)
- Mintage
- Not recorded
- Composition
- Copper
- Weight
- 14.707 g
- Diameter
- 30 mm
Why there is no letter on this coin
Look for a letter and you will not find one. The 1791 United States Cent is a Philadelphia product, and the main mint did not sign its work at this time.
What makes the 1791 United States Cent valuable
Without a firm mintage figure, the 1791 United States Cent trades on what actually turns up. Documented museum specimens give collectors a benchmark for authenticity and typical preservation.
Context adds the final layer to the 1791 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.
1791 United States Cent inscriptions & design
Obverse
WASHINGTON PRESIDENT 1791
Bust l. in coat
Reverse
ONE CENT
eagle with shield
Measured 1791 United States Cent specimens
12 physically measured 1791 United States Cent examples in our reference database. Real measured weights and die axes let you authenticate a coin against the 14.707 g, 30 mm minting standard.
| Specimen | Weight | Diameter | Die axis | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1791 United States Cent #1 | 13.77 g | 29 mm | - | Baker.16 (fake), Breen.1217 (fake) |
| 1791 United States Cent #2 | 16.422 g | - | 6 h | Breen 1206 (fake), Baker 15 (fake) |
| 1791 United States Cent #3 | 14.946 g | - | 6 h | Breen 1206 (fake), Baker 15 (fake) |
| 1791 United States Cent #4 | 14.381 g | - | 6 h | Breen 1206 (fake), Baker 15 (fake) |
| 1791 United States Cent #5 | 11.813 g | - | 6 h | Breen 1206 (fake), Baker 15 (fake) |
| 1791 United States Cent #6 | 13.413 g | - | 6 h | Breen 1206 (fake), Baker 15 (fake) |
| 1791 United States Cent #7 | 17.138 g | - | 6 h | Breen 1206 (fake), Baker 15 (fake) |
| 1791 United States Cent #8 | 15.819 g | - | 6 h | Breen 1206 (fake), Baker 15 (fake) |
| 1791 United States Cent #9 | 15.301 g | - | 6 h | Breen 1206 (fake), Baker 15 (fake) |
| 1791 United States Cent #10 | 12.131 g | - | 6 h | Breen 1206 (fake), Baker 15 (fake) |
| 1791 United States Cent #11 | 16.282 g | - | 6 h | Breen.1217 (fake), Baker.16 (fake) |
| 1791 United States Cent #12 | 14.091 g | - | 6 h | Breen.1217 (fake), Baker.16 (fake) |
Specifications compiled from documented museum specimens. See our data & methodology page.