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Message:: [QUOTE="ronnie58, post: 2888718, member: 90698"]Great history, thank you for detailing this.  It is nice to learn the engraver's name for this classic issue.    Am I missing something or does the production quality of the 1781 Libertas Americana appear to be markedly superior to our 1793 1C?  Of course the token is not circulated, but the Chain Cent shown here is in mint state, so it's a fair comparison.        Perhaps it's a matter of die state, or was the mint technology so much more advanced in France in 1781?  This example looks like it could be offered as a new commem from the U.S. Mint. Some tokens were later smoothed, and maybe this is one of those; but the strike and even the planchet quality still look a lot better.   As to the 'witchy' look of the 1793 1C:   With the wild hair, sloped forehead and heavy eyelid the early Liberty does appear a bit ragged.  But then Americans had plenty to be tired about at that point, so it may well be an accurate depiction of the national mood.    And while refinement was a goal of colonial society, those who exchanged the first large cents around wharves, inns and taverns were on the rougher side of life.    The Chain Cent obverse has always seemed appropriate to me in these ways.[/QUOTE]