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1 Cent '1896' Pattern, bronze
| Issuer | United States Mint |
|---|---|
| Year | 1896 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | 1 Cent (0.01 USD) |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | At center, a heraldic United States shield bears the word LIBERTY inscribed across a scroll in its upper portion. Behind the shield rise two crossed poles: one surmounted by a Phrygian liberty cap, the other by a perched eagle. The national motto E PLURIBUS UNUM appears in the upper legend, flanked by thirteen stars arranged seven to the left and six to the right. The date 1896 is placed in the lower exergual area beneath the shield. |
|---|---|
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| Edge | Plain |
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| Additional information |
J-1768 is one of several experimental cent patterns struck in 1896 as the Mint explored design alternatives ahead of no particular mandate — a routine exercise that produced dozens of documented die marriages that year. Most 1896 patterns survive in very small quantities, often fewer than a dozen specimens, struck on polished planchets exclusively for collector and presentation purposes. The Mint sold these directly to favored collectors, a practice that generated quiet revenue and considerable controversy by the 1880s and remained ethically murky through the end of the century.