1793 Flowing Hair Cent. Wreath Reverse. S-6. Rarity-3. Vine and Bars Edge. Fine-12 (PCGS).
A lovely Fine-12 example of this historic and eagerly sought one year design type in the U.S. Mint's large cent series. Medium golden-brown and antique copper patina blankets both sides, the reverse a bit more boldly toned than the obverse. The former side also exhibits a trace of microgranularity when observed with the aid of a loupe, although both sides are overall smooth in hand with few blemishes of note. In fact, the only mark worthy of individual attention is a small planchet void on Liberty's cheek. Well centered in strike with plenty of bold detail remaining, there is much to recommend this coin to advanced type collectors as well as early copper specialists. Historically 1793 large cents have been one of the most coveted of collector coins. These impressive copper pieces were the first coins the new Philadelphia Mint issued in quantity as coinage first began in the United States. The first cents display the Flowing Hair, Chain Reverse motif launched on March 1, 1793 with 36,103 coins struck of that type before public outcry over the design forced a change in mid 1793 to an entirely new design. This is when the 1793 Wreath cents were launched, with the output reaching 63,353 pieces before the public cried out once again and a third revision to the large cent design was undertaken late that year. The resulting Liberty Cap design proved more agreeable to contemporary Americans than its Chain Reverse and Wreath Reverse predecessors with coinage of that design type lasting into 1796.
PCGS# 1347. NGC ID: 223H.
From the Michael Mann Type Collection.