Chain cent
United states | |
| Value | 0.01 U.S. Dollar |
|---|---|
| Mass | 13.48 g |
| Diameter | 26–27 mm |
| Edge | Decorated with bars and vines |
| Composition | 100% Cu |
| Years of minting | 1793 |
| Mint marks | None, all large cents were minted at the Philadelphia Mint |
| Obverse | |
| Design | Liberty (Breen obverse 3 shown) |
| Designer | Henry Voigt (supposedly) |
| Design date | 1793 |
| Reverse | |
| Design | Chain (Breen reverse B shown) |
| Designer | Henry Voigt (supposedly) |
| Design date | 1793 |
The chain cent was America's first large cent and the first circulating coin officially produced by the United States Mint. It was struck only during 1793.
It was not the first circulating coin produced by the United States, which was the Fugio cent of 1787 (also known as the Franklin cent), based on the Continental dollar. As with the Fugio cent, the Chain cent was made of copper and featured a chain symbolizing the linking together of the states of the United States.