1798 First Hair Style

The 1798 First Hair Style large cent uses the earlier version of the Draped Bust portrait, with Liberty's hair rendered in a style that had been standard since the design's introduction in 1796. The hair flows in relatively loose, undifferentiated curls. A second hair style, with more defined and individually articulated curls, would appear on later 1798 dies, prompting the "First" and "Second" designations used by catalogers.

The distinction between the two hair styles reflects evolving die-cutting technique at the Mint. Robert Scot or his assistants refined the portrait over time, and the 1798 date sits at the transition point between the earlier and later treatments. Identifying the hair style requires comparison against reference images, as the differences are in the handling of individual curls rather than in the overall composition of the portrait.

The First Hair Style is generally associated with earlier 1798 production and is less common than the Second Hair Style, which was used for the larger portion of the year's output. A collector pursuing both hair styles will find the First somewhat harder to locate, particularly in higher grades where the hair detail needed for confident attribution is still sharp.