TRIVIA: First USA Cents - Page 2

Clinker · 10-30-2009, 11:31 AM

Do you want to know more about our first Cent; the USA 1793 Large Cent Coins?
The first 1793 Large Cent coins were struck bearing Henry Voight's "Flowing Hair" variety of Lady Liberty's bust on the obverse and his "Chain" reverse. To discourage clipping a security edge of bars and a slender vine with leaves was incorporated.
There are two major reverse varieties attributed to this designer:

Variety I. The legend has the abbreviation AMERI.
Variety II. The legend has the entire word AMERICA on it. This major variety has two minor obverse varieties:

Variety 1. Periods after LIBERTY and date.
Variety 2. No periods after LIBERTY and date.

An outcry arose over the "Chain" reverse (symbol of subjigation) and many prominent people declared the obverse to be an undignified representation of Liberty so Voight redesigned the cent.

Changes to the obverse included adding a sprig of leaces above the date and enhancing the relief of Liberty's face and hair. About two months later a spray of strawberry leaves was placed above the date.

Changes to the reverse included replacing the "Chain" with a single bow wreath.

Here's a photo that lets you see the "Chain" and "Wreath" reversesside by side courtesy of coinsauctionhelp.com:

http://coinauctionshelp.com/Flowing%...ge%20Cent.html

At the onset of Voight's redesigning task the security edge retained its bar and vine motif, but later he changed it to a lettered edge. The edges read "ONE HUNDRED FOR A DOLLAR." There are two varieties of these. One has a single leaf after the text while another has two leaves after the text.

More changes:

Three months later, because of continued and growing objection to the obverse portrait of Liberty, Voight's designs were discontinued. The powers that be reached into the Mint's archives and selected a Pattern Cent design that was submitted by Joseph Wright.

Before I continue, let me reveal some biographical data on Wright.
Joseph Wright was an accomplished artist in the private sector of colonial America and President George Washington wanted Congress to appoint him to become the first Chief Engraver of the United States Mint. Wright (under President Washington's urging) began a quest in 1972 to create and submit designs for the Cent, Half Disme, Disme, Quarter-dollar, Half Dollar and Dollar.
Here's an excerpt from the US Patterns archives.

"Wright was in very poor health for the last year or so of his life. His bout with yellow fever was debilitating and prevented him from designing more than two of the coins: the Quarter-dollar and the Cent. "

The Quarter-dollar dies were used to strike 1792 Quarters. After creating the Quarter-dollar pattern, Wright designed the Liberty Cap Cent in the late summer and fall of 1793. In September of 1793, he succumbed to his illness.

Note: Wright's design called for a thick planchet and the wreath on the reverse has a double bow.

It is believed he never saw a minted 1793 Cent.

Here's a photo of the Pattern Quarter bearing Wright's Design:

http://uspatterns.com/j12p14.html

Here's a photo of Voight's two 1793 Large Cent with a side by side view of the two different reverses courtesy of coinauctionshelp.com:

http://coinauctionshelp.com/Flowing%...ge%20Cent.html

And here's a photo of Wright's design courtesy of coinauctionshelp:

http://coinauctionshelp.com/LibertyC...LargeCent.html

Did you enjoy this abreviated version?

Clinker

Welcome to Coin Talk! Register Now, it's easy and FREE!