I went to the Muncie coin show today. I picked up this low grade 1794 at a very good price. I can see most of the details so overall I’m happy with it.
There is something about holding a piece of American history, from whence the republic was a mere lass, that sends a shiver through one. This piece served her new country well. You also get an appreciation for the 13 gramme heft of the piece - these were meant to approximate their actual value in bronze. When I bought my 1794 years ago I literally stared at it for hours.
I feel the same way each time I add another 94 to my collection. I hope I’m able to keep adding them this year.
Sounds like the Muncie show was good for both of us. Your 1794 is a S-59 an R-3 coin, which I don't have. I picked up a 1796 draped bust at the show. An NC-1. But I paid a lot more than you did.
I like your coin. While the appeal of eye candy high-grade early cents is undeniable, their cost makes them unattainable for most of us. And, frankly, I find the circulated and even beat up examples exude a charm deriving from the unknown history of their circulation. One can imagine anything! Here's my beat up 1794. My imagined story here is that it fell onto the cobbled street of Philadelphia from a boy's hand when his father sent him down the street to buy a bucket of beer from the tavern. Then it was run over by the iron-shod wheel of a carter's wagon carrying rum or whiskey to the docks from the farms west of the Allegheny Mountains.
They are. Anything 1798 1st Hairstyle and earlier I am a huge fan of - the differences between dies were at their most significant. Really want a 1794 Cap, any variety next.