Volume #19 in Whitman's best-selling Bowers Series covers two of the earliest U.S. coin denominations: half cents and large cents. These classic copper coins were made from 1793 into the late 1850s. In this colorfully illustrated book, America's popular early coppers are given the famous Q. David Bowers treatment: insightful study, rich historical background, and detailed data analysis. Bowersthe "Dean of American Numismatics" and the most prolific numismatic author of all timetells you everything you need to know to be a smart collector: how to evaluate quality, determine value, understand the market, and make good buys. Along the way, he explains why, in all of American coinage, half cents and large cents possess a special charm. You'll learn how the history of the developing nation shaped the coins' designs and production, and the effects the War of 1812 and other national events on their coinage.