Same Date Different Type Part IV

In our next installment of this series, we'll take a look at three 18th century examples of U.S. coins of the same denomination, bearing the same date, but of a totally different type.

In its first year of operation, the U.S. Mint in Philadelphia produced three unique types of cents. During March 1793, some 36,000 Chain Cents were stuck. Even these have two distinct varieties, with the abbreviated "AMERI" reverse as well as the "AMERICA" legend on the back. From April to July, just over 63,000 cents of the Wreath design were made; again, with two major varieties; the lettered edge and the vine & bars edge. Finally, in September, the Mint delivered approximately 11,000 cents dated 1793 of the new Liberty Cap type, which would last through 1796.

Shown at left are the three types of cents struck in the fledgling mint's inaugural year.

Three years later, the mint would again change cent types in midyear. Mint Assistant Coiner Adam Eckfeldt reported that in July, 1796, the mint changed to the Draped Bust design from the earlier Liberty Cap type. The design of Liberty's head on the new cents copied the style that had appeared the previous year on the silver dollar. Modeled after a drawing by Gilbert Stuart, it was engraved by Robert Scot and dominated the design of both copper and silver coinage through 1807.

Our final coin is the silver dollar of 1795. After only two years, the attractive but rather plain Flowing Hair design was replaced by Scot's Draped Bust design, after a portrait of Gilbert Stuart. It was not until October that the first coins of the new design were struck but almost 43,000 pieces were made with the 1795 date.

Next time, we'll begin our look at mid-year changeovers in the U.S. gold series during the 20th century.