1853
This year, a US fleet under Commodore Matthew Perry arrived in Japan, the US pays Mexico $10,000,000 for the Gadsden Purchase and Congress authorized a survey for transcontinental railroad route. Charles Tiffany established a jewelry business in New York City, Antioch College, a school for both men and women, opened its doors in Ohio, and the railroads now connected Chicago with the east coast.
Elsewhere, vaccination against small pox was made compulsory in England, Liszt popularized a new musical form with 15 "Hungarian Rhapsodies, Queen Victoria allowed the use of chloroform during the birth of her 7th child, and the first man carrying glider is flown for 500 yards in England.
The mint struck and issued 6,641,131 large cents and 129,694 half cents this year. Thirty-three different large cent varieties (N 1 – N 33) and one half cent variety (C 1) are known for this date. The half cents were delivered on April 4 and December 9. No proof half cents are known for this date.
The nicest coins for this year include C 1 (1), C 1 (2), C 1 (4), C 1 (8), N 10, and N 29.
HALF CENTS
LARGE CENTS