PCGS Nos: 1901, 1902, 1903

Mintage:
Circulation strikes: 6,641,131
Proofs: none reported or seen

Designer: Christian Gobrecht

Diameter: ±27 millimeters

Metal content:
Copper - 100%

Weight: ±168 grains (±10.89 grams)

Edge: Plain

Mintmark: None (all 1853 Large Cents were struck at the Philadelphia Mint)

Notes:
The finest Brown 1853 Large Cent graded by PCGS is a single MS-67BN.

The finest Red-Brown 1853 Large Cents graded by PCGS are 2 MS-66RB's.

The finest Red 1853 Large Cent graded by PCGS is a single MS-67RD.

No Proof 1853 Large Cents have been graded by PCGS.

The following notice appeared in the 1891 issue of The Numismatist (Volume 3, Nos. 15 & 16): "In the vaults of the Central National Bank of Lynn Mass., are a lot of 1853 cents that have remained there since they came from the mint in that year, and are perfect and uncirculated.  Charles G. Bailey of 134 Chestnut St, Lynn, an official of the bank, has them for disposal at reasonable prices."

Images courtesy of Early American History Auctions

Varieties (33):
Newcomb 1 - Common
Newcomb 2 - Scarce
Newcomb 3 - Very Common
Newcomb 4 - Scarce
Newcomb 5 - Common
Newcomb 6 - Very Common
Newcomb 7 - Common
Newcomb 8 - Scarce
Newcomb 9 - Common
Newcomb 10 - Very Common
Newcomb 11 - Common
Newcomb 12 - Very Common
Newcomb 13 - Very Common
Newcomb 14 - Common
Newcomb 15 - Common
Newcomb 16 - Very Common
Newcomb 17 - Common
Newcomb 18 - Very Common
Newcomb 19 - Very Common
Newcomb 20 - Scarce
Newcomb 21 - Scarce
Newcomb 22 - Common
Newcomb 23 - Very Scarce
Newcomb 24 - Common
Newcomb 25 - Very Common
Newcomb 26 - Common
Newcomb 27 - Common
Newcomb 28 - Very Scarce
Newcomb 29 - Scarce
Newcomb 30 - Very Common
Newcomb 31 - Very Scarce
Newcomb 32 - Rare
Newcomb 33 - Common

Significant examples:
NGC MS-66 Red and Brown.  Ex - Heritage Numismatic Auctions, Inc.'s "Long Beach Signature Sale", May 31-June 2, 2001, Lot 7503, not illustrated, not sold

Recent appearances:
Choice Brilliant Proof.  Ex - Stack's "The University of Notre Dame Sale", March 20-21, 2001, Lot 142,"Judd 149, 150, or 151", not plated, sold for $488.75

NGC MS-66 Brown.  Ex - Heritage Numismatic Auctions, Inc.'s "Long Beach Signature Sale", May 31-June 2, 2001, Lot 7502, not illustrated, sold for $529.00


PCGS MS-65 Red.  Ex- Heritage Numismatic Auctions, Inc.'s "Long Beach Sale" October 5-7, 2000, Lot 5883, plated, sold for $2,018.25

NGC MS-65 Red.  Ex - Ira & Larry Goldberg Coin & Collectibles' "The Fairchild Family Trust Collection Sale", May 28-30, 2001, Lot 168, illustrated, sold for $1,840.00

PCGS MS-65 Red.  Ex - Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc.'s "The Benson Collection - Part I", February 16, 18-20, 2001, Lot 595, "N-25, Del Bland graded MS-66", illustrated, sold for $1,840.00  Ex Heritage Numismatic Auctions 2/94:6697

PCGS MS-65 Red and Brown.  Ex- Heritage Numismatic Auctions, Inc.'s "Long Beach Sale" October 5-7, 2000, Lot 5882, not plated, sold for $862.50

NGC MS-65 Red-Brown.  Ex – American Numismatic Rarities, LLC’s “The Classics Sale,” July 25, 2003 , Lot 129, "Newcomb-11", illustrated, sold for $575.00

PCGS MS-65 Red and Brown.  Ex- Heritage Numismatic Auctions, Inc.'s "Long Beach Sale" October 5-7, 2000, Lot 5881, not plated, sold for $632.50

NGC MS-65 Red and Brown.  Ex - Bowers & Merena Galleries' "The Lake Geneva Sale", June 28-29, 2001, Lot 120, "N-25", not illustrated, sold for $460.00

NGC MS-65 Brown.  Ex - Bowers and Merena Galleries' Robert W. Schwan Collection Sale, October 26-27, 2000, Lot 297, "Newcomb-3", sold for $253.00

NGC MS-65 Brown.  Ex - Ira & Larry Goldberg Coin & Collectibles' "The Fairchild Family Trust Collection Sale", May 28-30, 2001, Lot 170, "N-3", illustrated, sold for $489.00

PCGS MS-65 Brown.  Ex - Ira & Larry Goldberg Coin & Collectibles' "The Fairchild Family Trust Collection Sale", May 28-30, 2001, Lot 171, illustrated, sold for $604.00

PCGS MS-64 Red.  Ex - Heritage Numismatic Auctions, Inc.'s "Philadelphia 2000 Signature Sale", August 6-7, 2000, Lot 6578, not illustrated, sold for $718.75

PCGS MS-64 Red.  Ex - Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc.'s "The Benson Collection - Part I", February 16, 18-20, 2001, Lot 590, "N-10", illustrated, not sold  Ex James Macallister, circa 1945 at $2.50

NGC MS-64 Red and Brown.  Ex - Bowers & Merena Galleries' "The Lake Geneva Sale", June 28-29, 2001, Lot 119, "N-18", not illustrated, sold for $276.00

PCGS MS-64 Red and Brown.  Ex - Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc.'s "The Benson Collection - Part I", February 16, 18-20, 2001, Lot 596, "N-25, Del Bland graded MS-63", illustrated, sold for $575.00  Ex Ira Reed 6/6/44 as Unc Red for $3

PCGS MS-64 Brown.  Ex - Bowers and Merena Galleries' Robert W. Schwan Collection Sale, October 26-27, 2000, Lot 299, "Newcomb-18", sold for $322.00

NGC MS-64 Brown.  Ex - Bowers and Merena Galleries' Robert W. Schwan Collection Sale, October 26-27, 2000, Lot 300, "Newcomb-29", sold for $253.00

PCGS MS-64 Brown.  Ex - Heritage Numismatic Auctions, Inc.'s "Long Beach Signature Sale", May 31-June 2, 2001, Lot 6197, not plated, sold for $540.50   From the Alex Highland Collection

PCGS MS-63 Red and Brown.  Ex - Bowers and Merena Galleries' Robert W. Schwan Collection Sale, October 26-27, 2000, Lot 298, "Newcomb-13", sold for $322.00

MS-63 Red and Brown.  Ex - Heritage Numismatic Auctions, Inc.'s "Long Beach Signature Sale", May 31-June 2, 2001, Lot 5434, not illustrated, sold for $172.50

MS-63.  Ex- Stack's "The September Sale", September 12-13, 2000, Lot 99, "Newcomb-10", sold for $718.75

Del Bland graded MS-63.  Ex - Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc.'s "The Benson Collection - Part I", February 16, 18-20, 2001, Lot 594, "N-20", illustrated, sold for $1,437.00

MS-62.  Ex - Stack's "65th Anniversary Sale", October 17-19, 2000, Lot 93, "Newcomb 12", not plated, sold for $299.00  Ex: Winter Sale (Stack's, January 1974, lot 1087)"

Del Bland graded MS-62.  Ex - Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc.'s "The Benson Collection - Part I", February 16, 18-20, 2001, Lot 592, "N-13", illustrated, sold for $207.00

Del Bland graded MS-61.  Ex - Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc.'s "The Benson Collection - Part I", February 16, 18-20, 2001, Lot 593, "N-18", illustrated, sold for $483.00

MS-60.  Ex - Stack's "65th Anniversary Sale", October 17-19, 2000, Lot 92, "Newcomb 10", not plated,  sold for $63.25

Del Bland graded MS-60.  Ex - Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc.'s "The Benson Collection - Part I", February 16, 18-20, 2001, Lot 589, "N-6", illustrated, sold for $483.00

NGC AU-58.  Ex- Heritage Numismatic Auctions, Inc.'s "Long Beach Sale" October 5-7, 2000, Lot 5879, "N-12", not plated, sold for $115.00

Del Bland graded AU-55.  Ex - Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc.'s "The Benson Collection - Part I", February 16, 18-20, 2001, Lot 588, "N-3", illustrated, sold for $149.00

EF-45/AU-50.  Ex- Stack's "The September Sale", September 12-13, 2000, Lot 100, "Newcomb-10", sold for $34.50 

Del Bland graded EF-45.  Ex - Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc.'s "The Benson Collection - Part I", February 16, 18-20, 2001, Lot 591, "N-10", not illustrated, sold for $98.00

NGC EF-40.  Ex - Ira & Larry Goldberg Coin & Collectibles' "The Fairchild Family Trust Collection Sale", May 28-30, 2001, Lot 169, "Double Struck, rotated in collar", illustrated, sold for $862.00

Sources and/or recommended reading:
"The PCGS Population Report, October 2004" by The Professional Coin Grading Service

"Attribution Guide For United States Large Cents 1840-1857", 2nd edition by J.R. Grellman and Jules Reiver