Two Cents Two Hundred Years Apart

braddick

It's worth noting that these images are not to scale -- the chain cent, as it was known, was over an inch across and weighed two and a half times as much as a current quarter.

Although, one variety, the abbreviation "Ameri," is used due to poor spacing of the engraver, suspected to have been Chief Coiner, Henry Voigt. Chain Cents were not popular with the public. Some critics thought Liberty had unkempt hair and a frightened look in her eye and that the chain links that were meant to symbolize strength in unity reminded some of the uncomfortable chains of slavery. Today, Chain cents are among the rarest and most beloved of all United States coins. The "Ameri" coin is highly prized because it's considered the first variety struck by the Federal Government.

etch etch etch etch etch etch A
etch etch etch etch etch etch M
etch etch etch etch etch etch E
etch etch etch etch etch etch R
etch etch etch etch etch etch I
……you know what? Forget it. These pilgrims can't read. This bites! I'm out!

coinbuf

A chain cent is one of the coins I would love to own, problem is I'll never be able to afford one that I like. The 93 I have.

WinLoseWin

That reminds me of all the missed opportunities the government and mint didn't capitalize on for the 200th anniversary of the US Mint around 1992 and 1993.

Your post makes me think it would have been interesting to have used an abbreviated AMERI. on some of the circulating Lincoln cents. Sort of like they did with using the P mint mark on the 2017 Lincolns.

ricko

The chain cent is one I would like to add to my collection. I like the idea of juxtaposing it with the 1993 cent. Cheers, RickO