Large Cent from Virginia battlefield

Over the years I have ended up with coins that were found along with other artifacts on various Civil War sites, mainly in the Virginia area. This one is a United States Large Cent dated “1817”, with a diameter of 1 1/8”. The first official mintage of the large cent was in 1793, and its production continued until 1857, when it was officially replaced by the modern-size one-cent coin (commonly called the penny). As a response to public criticism of the Classic Head, the Mint assigned Chief Engraver Scot to redesign the cent in 1816. This newest design enlarged the obverse portrait, giving Liberty a much more mature look and surrounded the portrait with stars along the outer edge of the coin.