1838

    Kansas City was established and westward expansion accelerated, due in large part to the continuing economic depression. Also this year, Morse introduced the Morse code, Charles Spencer made America’s first microscope, and Chauncey Jerome invented a one day clock that was so accurate and inexpensive that it soon flooded the market. Jerome’s clock created the expression “Yankee ingenuity.”

    Elsewhere, Charles Dickens published, in serial form, Nicholas Nickleby, Soprano Jenny Lind, later known as the “Swedish Nightingale,” was a great hit in her debut in Stockholm, and the Boers defeated the Zulus at the Battle of Blood River, Natal.

    A total of 6,370,200 large cents were delivered this year. No half cents were struck this year. Fifteen different varieties (N 1 – N 12 and N 14 – N16) are known for cents dated 1838. One variety (N 11) is known in proof. No half cents were struck this year.

    The nicest coins for this year in the national numismatic collection include N-2 (1), N-4 (2), N-7, and N-12. Also, check out N-6 (3) for a different type of cent.

Large Cents

N 1 (1)

N 1 (2)

N 1 (3)

N 1 (4)

N 2 (1)

N 2 (2)

N 3 (1)

N 3 (2)

N 3 (3)

N 4 (1)

N 4 (2)

N 4 (3)

N 4 (4)

N 6 (1)

N 6 (2)

N 6 (3)

N 7

N 8

N 12 

N 14

(Back to Photo Gallery)