1799
This year, the Rosetta stone was discovered in Egypt and helped scientists decipher hieroglyphics. On December 14, George Washington died at Mount Vernon. Napoleon declared himself First Consul in France and a preserved mammoth was discovered in Siberia. Joseph Mickley, the "Father" of American numismatics, was born. His long search in later life for a cent bearing his birth year has helped popularize the rarity of cents bearing this date.
Mint records indicate that 904,585 large cents were struck this year. But 1799 cents are rare. In fact, this date is the rarest date for the entire run of large cents. Research of Mint records, and die state evidence, has indicated that most cents struck this year were dated 1798. In fact, 1799 cents were struck before other cents dated 1798. There is even some speculation that cents dated 1799 were struck in early 1800.
Walter Breen suggested a mintage of 42,540 for 1799 cents. But more recent study has shown that even this number may not be correct. Current estimates put the number of cents produced dated 1799 in the range of 100,000.
Three different varieties are known for 1799, 2 having an overdate (1799/8) and one a normal date. The overdates are rarer.
LARGE CENTS