First struck in 1793, the large cent was coined every year from 1793 to 1857 except 1815. When the United States declared war in 1812 against Great Britain, coinage was affected. The wartime embargo against shipments made it so the mint could not get any new copper planchets, which were imported from Great Britain, to strike coins. The mint made do with what supply it had and struck coins into 1815. After the war ended in 1815, the mint wasted no time in ordering new planchets. For an unknown reason no coins were dated 1815 from the supply the mint had in the interim. There may have not been a significant supply of planchets left and when new ones were received it may have been easier to use the old design and date. In addition to the copper shortage, people also hoarded precious metals during the war. Altered and fantasy cents with the 1815 date occasionally appear.