Robert Birch was the engraver behind the design of this unusual silver centered copper one cent piece. His design for this coin as well as the large copper cent, the half-disme coin, and the disme (all of 1792) represent the first coins issued by the United States to bear the profile of Lady Liberty. Earlier proposed designs for the new 1792 coinage had featured George Washington's profile on the obverse but President Washington objected strongly to those designs as imbuing the new currency with a monarchical pattern. Most of congress agreed and the Lady Liberty design was subsequently chosen, a design which reflected more the spirit of the French Enlightenment than Aristocratic or Royal ambition. The words encircling Lady Liberty most pointedly emphasize this learned connection: LIBERTY PARENT OF SCIENCE & INDUSTRY. The small silver plug was incorporated into this smaller cent to compensate for the diminished weight of copper inherent in a smaller one cent coin. As with all of the Gallery Mint reproductions, this piece is true to the original specifications as to metallic content, weight and size. It has the word COPY stamped on it as required by the Hobby Protection Act of 1973, Section 304.6. It would make a great hole filler in any United States type collection until the resources for the original come along.