Draped Bust silver & copper coins

描述: The Draped Bust coinage series, minted from 1795 to 1808, marked a defining era in early U.S. coin design. This design replaced the earlier Flowing Hair motif and was featured on both copper and silver denominations, including the half cent, large cent, half dime, dime, quarter, half dollar, and dollar. The obverse was engraved by Robert Scot, showcasing a more refined and classical Liberty with flowing hair and draped clothing, likely inspired by a sketch of Ann Willing Bingham, a prominent Philadelphia socialite. The reverse designs varied: copper coins bore a simple laurel wreath or, later, a more detailed one, while silver denominations transitioned from a small eagle reverse to a powerful Heraldic Eagle in 1798, reflecting the young nation’s growing confidence and identity.

These coins were all struck at the Philadelphia Mint, the nation’s only mint at the time, and were made with manually operated screw presses—hence the often off-center strikes and irregular planchets seen today. Copper Draped Bust coins (half cents and large cents) were crucial for everyday transactions, while silver coins were higher denomination and often saw use in larger trade. Their production was tied closely to the availability of raw metal, political pressures, and evolving minting technology. Today, Draped Bust coins are cherished relics of early American history, combining scarce survival rates with deep historical value—each one a small, heavy chunk of the nation’s first full decade of economic and political formation.