1850 Cent

HBCC#:

6018

Breen#:

n/a

BD#:

n/a

Judd#:

121

Pollock#:

136

Congressman Sam Vinton, chairman of the Committee of Ways and Means, was the driving force behind the reduction in size of one-cent coinage and also of a proposed three-cent denomination. These simple patterns were issued in billon, copper, and copper-nickel, and with or without the central perforation or hole. A letter advocating this issue appeared in the May 14, 1850 issue of the Philadelphia North American and United States Gazette. The public was assured that if the bill passed, authorizing these issues, the finished coin would be much more artistic.

Provenance:

Purchased from Lee F. Hewitt, April 17, 1972.

Obverse:

USA ONE TENTH SILVER around central hole.

Reverse:

CENT above, 1850 below central hole, a rosette at each side of the hole.

Commentary: