1791 Washington - Large Eagle Cent

Coin Details

Description

Featuring a more prominent eagle reverse than its small eagle counterpart, the 1791 Washington Large Eagle Cent is cataloged as Baker 16, Musante GW-16, and Whitman 10570. The obverse presents Washington's bust, while the reverse displays a large heraldic eagle filling substantially more of the die field than the naturalistic small eagle on Baker 15 / GW-15. This larger, more imposing eagle prefigures the heraldic eagle that became standard on American coinage after the 1792 Coinage Act. The 1791 Washington cents were privately produced patterns anticipating that Washington's likeness would be adopted for national coinage — a proposal generating significant debate during the early 1790s. Manufactured in England, most likely in Birmingham, all varieties of the 1791 Washington cent are very rare. The large eagle reverse conveys stronger national authority compared to the delicate small eagle, and collectors prize the contrast between these two reverse treatments as representative of the design evolution during this experimental period. These pieces circulated alongside foreign coins, state coppers, and tokens before federal coinage achieved sufficient volume.

Rarity Notes

Very rare. 1791 Washington cents are scarce in all varieties.

Cross References

Baker 16; Musante GW-16; Whitman 10570