1825 Proof

The 1825 proof large cent comes from a Mint that was beginning, gradually, to recognize collectors as a constituency worth serving. Chief Engraver Robert Scot had died in 1823, and his successor William Kneass was settling into the role. The dies for the 1825 cent still bore Scot's Coronet Head design, but the day-to-day production of dies and coins now fell to Kneass and his small staff. Proof coins continued to be made one at a time, by hand, for individuals who requested them.

The striking process for an 1825 proof involved polishing the obverse and reverse dies to remove all tooling marks from their faces, leaving a smooth surface that would transfer as a mirror field on the finished coin. The planchet was chosen for uniform thickness and clean copper. A press operator then delivered two or more blows from the screw press, ensuring full metal flow into every crevice of the design. The resulting coin shows Liberty's portrait, the stars, the date, and the reverse wreath in a completeness of detail that separates proofs from even the sharpest business strikes. Fewer than five examples are believed to exist.