1856
This year, President Pierce recognized the pro-slavery legislature of the Kansas territory, leading to several fights, the burning of Lawrence, and the emergence of John Brown as an anti-slavery activist. James Buchanan was elected president this year, Gail Borden, a Texas inventor, developed an inexpensive way to condense milk, H.L. Lipman received a patent for a pencil with an attached eraser, and David Hughes patented a printing telegraph.
The Crimean War ended with the Treaty of Paris. The Black ea was demilitarized and Turkey was now considered an equal with the other European powers. "Big Ben," the 13 1/2 ton bell at the Houses of Parliament, is cast, Neanderthal Man is discovered near Dusseldorf, Britain granted self rule to Tasmania, and railroad service through the Black Forest of Germany began, with 40 tunnels along the way.
A total of 2,690,463 large cents and 40,430 half cents were struck and delivered this year. Twenty-one large cent varieties (N 1 – N 14 and N 16 – N 22) and one half cent variety (C 1) are known for this date. Cents of this year come with two styles of date, one with all the digits upright and another with the 56 slanted. One large cent variety, N 5, comes as a proof only. The half cent variety, C 1, comes as both a business strike and a proof. Two hundred proof half cents were struck on July 25. The reverse die for this variety was used for the small berry reverses on restrike half cents from 1831 – 1849.
The nicest coins for this year in the national numismatic collection include C 1 (3) , C 1 (5), C 1 (6), and N 5.
Half Cents
Large Cents