Owner Comments:

In this final year, large cent production was sharply reduced to only 333,456 pieces. Production was halted in Feb 1857 to allow the switch to the smaller, easier to handle, Flying Eagle Cent. Much of the large cent mintage never left the mint and was melted later in the year. Unfortunately, no record has ever been found as to the number of coins melted. Additionally, thousands and thousands of large cents were returned to the mint by banks and exchanged for the less bulky Flying Eagle Cents.

The NGC plus PCGS population total is only 22 pieces in MS-65 brown with only one piece finer. This large date N-1 variety is sharply struck in the centers with a smooth cheek and fields. A few of the obverse stars are flatly struck as usual.