1794 Large Cent

I need help with this 1794 Large Cent, including variety, value, etc. It is in an old SEGS holder, number 5111929214666421301 and graded VF-20, but there is no variety designation. I know SEGS is not a top grader. Also, is that a die break running through the date? Any help is appreciated.

 

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Attributing 1794 cents is hard. You will need to post a photo of the reverse without the glare which might be covering a diagnostic spot on the "O" in "OF."

 

The die break may be all that is needed unless it was used for other die pairings. That's probably why the reverse image was asked for. If no one replies by Monday, I'll look it up at work.

 

@Coins4Eli

 

I got a chance to use one of my new Noyes books.
It's a Sheldon-43 Noyes die state D/D. It has a Rarity of 2 which means that there are an estimated 600-1000 survivors.
It's a neat coin, especially with those die cracks!

 

Is that the only use of the Obverse die?

 

My baby

 

Can't help but I have to say that this is a wonderful coin. Love the history of these older Large Cents. Thanks, for sharing!

 

Another Reference: U.S. Large Cents 1793-1795, Vol. 1 by Robert Powers

 

I have own three 1794 large cents during my time as a collector. The first one had fairly nice obverse, but the reverse was virtually blank. It was my type coin when I was in high school.

Here is the second one. The grading services kicked this one back to my in a "body bag" as a no grade.



My current piece is a Sheldon 20. This coin has a long pedigree. It's most famous recent owner was Dan Holmes. It's in a PCGS MS-62, Brown holder, but the official EAC grade is AU-50.



I think that this coin is very elegant for a simple large cent. Yes, it had a lot more buying power in its day than cents do today, but it still cuts quite an image for the second most humble coin among the ten denominations that the first mint issued.

This piece is a plate coin in David Bowers' A Guide Book of Half Cents and Large Cents. It is located at the top of page 312, "Flat Pole, Reverse Letters Close to Denticles."

In late 1794 and for 1795, the obverse relief was lowered. This resulted in prolonging the life of the dies, but the design eye appeal suffered. Here is a high grade 1795 large cent. This one is a Sheldon 76b which is the most common variety among the Liberty Cap large cents.

 

Thanks

 

Thank you for your help. Die varieties are not my expertise and I don't encounter a lot of large cents. Does that mean it is a "Head of 1795"?

Will this photo work? Thanks.

 

The SEGS holder calls it an S-44, but what is difference in a 43 and 44?

 

You have a Head of '94 cent. As the name empiles, the Head of '95 cents have the head that was used on that date. This is a Head of 1795.



This is a head of 1794. It was struck in higher relief.



Yes, that photo is better. I worked on it a little.

I believe that you have an S-44. It doesn't make very much difference. Sheldon rated both of them as R-2, fairly common varieties.

 

Same obverse die, with a very, very, similar reverse die. That specific obverse die was used on the S-43, S-44, NC-5 and NC-10.

 

Thanks for your help. Redbook Professional Edition indicates 1794 could have head of 1793, 1794 or 1795 and I was not sure.

 

Yes, 1794 cents can have those three heads. The 1794 cents with the head of 1793 are by far the scarcest.