1829
This year, President Jackson instituted the spoils system, where federal appointments were based on party service. The Welland Canal, which by-passed Niagara Falls, was opened, Edgar Allan Poe anonymously published his first work Tamerlane and Other Poems, the first modern hotel, the Tremont, was opened in Boston, and Francis Lieber published the first edition of the Encyclopedia Americana, the first American encyclopedia.
Elsewhere, Russia acquired the mouth of the Danube and the eastern shores of the Black Sea from Turkey through the Treaty of Aderianople and Irishman Daniel O'Connell agitated for the dissolution of the union of Great Britain and Ireland. Rossini completed the his final major composition, "William Tell," Franz Ressel developed a screw propeller for steamships, and English statesman Robert peel started the Metropolitan Police Force in London. These policemen were called "Bobbies" after Peel.
The mint delivered 1,414,500 large cents and 487,000 half cents this year. Nine varieties of large cents (N1 - N 9) and one variety of half cent (C 1) are known for this year. All cents were probably dated 1829, but this large a mintage from one set of dies for half cents might suggest some of the half cents were dated 1828. The large cents include small (N 3, N5, and N 9) and large letter reverse legends. Proof cents this year were one-sided, using a technique borrowed from the French mint. N 7 (1) is such an example.
The best coins for this year in the National Numismatic collection include C 1 (2) and N 7 (1). Check out the four N 7s, with different numbers of reverse cracks.
Half Cents
Large Cents