One cent coins

                                                                                                                                 

                                                                  The first one-cent coins were minted in 1793 and were much larger than the present
                                                       day Lincoln penny.  Not only was it almost 50% larger in diameter but the weight was
                                                       more than 4 times as much, all copper.  The diameter of the coin remained almost the same
                                                      until 1858 but the weight was reduced in 1795 and a variety of designs was used, including the
                                                   three represented on the half cent. Although the 1793 design called the Flowing Hair is rare and
                                            extremely valuable, the Liberty Cap design which came out that same year can still be bought for about
                     $200 but is not represented in the U.S. Types book. I do have one of those but it is a 1794 issue.
                                       In 1856 it was decided to reduce the size of the one cent coin in order to save on the cost of metal and a new
                                    design was made with a flying eagle on the front. These coins were not popular and were minted for only three
                                years. In 1859 the Indian Head penny was born and remained in production for 50 years, being one of the most
                      popular of all U. S. coins ever made. It might have survived even longer except that in 1909 President Roosevelt
                    campaigned for a new design and because that year was the 100th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birth, his face
                was put on the new one cent coin, which survives today, despite the desire by many to retire it permanently. One other
            penny coin must be mentioned here: in 1861 the confederacy minted at least 12 (it may be as many as 16) one cent coins
with its own unique design, different from the Indian Head that was used by the northern states at that time.
The 12 that are known today are all worth at least $100,000 each.

Fugio    Liberty Cap    Draped Bust            Turban Head             Coronet               Flying Eagle          Indian Head         Lincoln