Why this electrotype was made is your best guess.  I would like to think it was just a test piece before better date and varieties were made, however I have seen and own other common date large cents as electrotypes, and I can't imagine all were made strictly for practice - but maybe I'm wrong!?
 
This is a common date in an uncommon form as an electrotype.  This example was once owned by none other than Mike Ringo.