Liberty, Letting Her Hair Down

Today's favorite coin that I am featuring is two versions of the 1793 "Flowing Hair" Lady Liberty cent. The first version display on its obverse is an almost "wild" looking Lady Liberty, with flowing hair. And on its reverse, the coin features the popular thirteen chain links design. This first design did not sit well with the public, who reacted negatively to it, saying that Liberty looked to be "in fright". Some also felt that the reverse, which featured chains, was instead a representation for slavery. After two months the design was discarded and the Mint instructed for a new design to be created.


1793 "Flowing Hair" Liberty cent, reverse chain design (Image from Wikipedia.org).

The other version of the 1793 cent has a redesigned flowing-haired Lady Liberty and on its reverse displays a wreath with some sort of unknown plant. The designer, Adam Eckfelt, revised both the obverse and reverse of the previously unpopular liberty cent. Her hair was made longer and the chains were replaced with a wreath.



1793 "Flowing Hair" Liberty cent, reverse wreath design (Image from www.coincommunity.info).



This coin struck my fancy I believe because of its simplicity, compared to later Lady Liberty coins to come. I like that Lady Liberty almost looks wild and untamed and yet still very regal. I also find it interesting that for one of the first American cents, a woman (albeit fictional) was chosen to grace American coinage and set the trend for centuries to come.