Fun new large cent I just picked up! 1794 S-21. Rarity 3. The reverse die was used in the much rarer S-20 die marriage, which used the 1793 head style. The diagnostic is that the reverse letters are very close to the rim. One other reverse die had this feature, but the right ribbon extended all the way to the rim. It does not on this coin. This evidence shows that this is one of the earliest cents made in 1794, and among the earliest cents minted by the US. Say what you will about environmental damage making coins worthless, but the corrosion on this piece is very light, and I like the colors of the patina. It isn’t an ugly coin at all. A lot of the “pits” are just chips in the encrustation and not eaten-away metal.
That is absolutely my kind of coin. I don't see environmental damage. I see a lovely early copper with detail and character.
I don't want to up stage the OP, but at the risk of doing that, here is the S-21 that was in the Dan Holms collection. I think that the 1794, Head of '94 cents, are beautiful and elegant. To think that this was just an humble cent that looked like this. I saw a really sharp one for the first time in the 1970s. Kathine Bollowa had it. The hair detail was complete except of over the ear where a couple of strans were worn together. The down side was that it was dark and a little crusty. After seeing that piece, I wanted a hight grade one. I finally purchased this piece many years later.