1851
This year, the three cent piece was authorized when the postal rate was reduced to three cents. Maine enacted prohibition legislation, that forbid the manufacture and sale of alcoholic beverages in the state, Herman Melville published Moby Dick, Emmanuel Leutze painted "Washington Crossing the Delaware," Isaac Singer patented a continuous stitch sewing machine, and Massachusetts passed a law allowing towns to tax residents for the support of free libraries.
Around the world, Victoria, Australia is made a separate British colony, the first horse drawn double-decker bus is introduced in London, German William Siemens invented a water meter, and China's population is recorded at 430 million.
The mint had a banner year in 1851 – 9,889,707 large cents and 147,672 half cents were struck and delivered. Forty-two different large cent varieties (N 1 - N 10, N 12 – N 27, N 29 –N 31, and N 33 – N 45) and one half cent variety (C 1) are known for this date. This date features another overdate, 1851 over 81, where the first two date digits were first punched into the die upside down and out of position. The half cent also comes as a proof. The number of proofs struck is unknown. Demand for half cents fell off this year, and some of these coins remained in the Mint vault until February 1853. For that reason, no half cents were struck in 1852.
The better coins for this date in the national numismatic collection include N 6, N 3 (1), and C 1 (1).
Half Cents
Large Cents