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1817 15 Stars
| Weight | 10.89 g |
| Diameter | 28.5 mm |
| Mint | Philadelphia |
| Strike | Circulation strike |
| Mintage | 3,948,400 Combined mintage for all 1817 varieties |
| Edge | Plain |
| Alignment | ↑↓ Coin |
| Composition | 100% Copper |
| Melt value | — |
| Designer | Robert Scot / Christian Gobrecht |
| Collector's Key ID | CK-173 |
Collection
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Other recorded varieties for 1817:
- 1817 13 Stars · 13 Stars
External references
The 1817 15 Stars large cent is one of the most collected varieties in the Coronet Head series. Instead of the standard thirteen stars representing the original colonies, this die carries fifteen. The two extra stars apparently represent Vermont (admitted 1791) and Kentucky (1792), though no documentation confirms the engraver's intent. No other Coronet Head die uses fifteen stars.
The error (if it was an error) or experiment (if deliberate) produced a single die marriage that is immediately identifiable: count the stars. Seven on one side, eight on the other, for fifteen total. The diagnostic requires no magnification, no specialized knowledge, and no reference comparison. Anyone can count to fifteen.
The 15 Stars variety is scarcer than the standard 13 Stars, having been produced from a single die pair that was either retired early or simply represented a small fraction of the year's total output. A premium over the 13 Stars version is consistent across all grades, and the variety is popular enough to appear in general-market references like the Red Book rather than being limited to specialist catalogs.
For a collector looking for a single interesting Coronet Head variety, the 1817 15 Stars is an excellent choice. The diagnostic is simple, the story is memorable, and the coin is available with patience. It is the kind of variety that non-collectors can appreciate at a glance, which makes it a useful conversation piece as well as a numismatic acquisition.
Reference data only — not an appraisal.
| Grade | Description | Low | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| G-4 | Good (G) | $40 | $46 |
| VG-8 | Very Good (VG) | $100 | $116 |
| F-12 | Fine (F) | $205 | $235 |
| VF-20 | Very Fine (VF) | $285 | $330 |
| EF-40 | Extremely Fine (EF) | $770 | $890 |
| AU-50 | About Uncirculated (AU) | $1,290 | $1,490 |
| MS-60 | Uncirculated (MS) | $3,035 | $3,500 |
| MS-63 | Choice Uncirculated (MS) | $6,640 | $7,030 |
How much is a 1817 15 Stars Coronet Head Large Cent worth?
How many 1817 15 Stars Coronet Head Large Cents were minted?
What is a 1817 15 Stars Coronet Head Large Cent made of?
What is the melt value of a 1817 15 Stars Coronet Head Large Cent?
Is the 1817 15 Stars Coronet Head Large Cent a key date?
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