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1793 1C Flowing Hair Wreath Cent, Vine and Bars (S-5) PCGS MS65BN Ex. Holmes

IN STOCK
SKU
6633978

S-5, B-6, Rarity-4. Plated in Sylvester S. Crosby's The United States Coinage of 1793. Breen Die State I. Struck before the border beads at the upper right obverse began to crumble. The reverse has a thin die crack through the tops of TE in UNITED. A few tiny die lines or "splinters" are evident on each side, especially at the base of EN in CENT. A tiny die bulge is visible between IT of UNITED, and delicate clash marks are evident below OF. Most of those die defects disappear with only slight wear, but they are prominently visible on this remarkable Specimen Cent. Both Sheldon and Breen listed this variety first in the lineup of Wreath cent varieties, suggesting that it was the first Wreath cent variety minted after that design was introduced in April 1793. If it was first, then this early die state represents the first-of-the-first, one of the earliest strikes of the design. The mirrored surfaces support that theory.

In his Encyclopedia of United States and Colonial Proof Coins, Walter Breen mentioned this exact coin with the comment: "Three or more are known which can qualify as presentation pieces." Breen was always looking for reasons to justify calling certain early coins presentation pieces. For the S-5 Wreath cents, he wrote: "A very few struck on burnished blanks carefully centered in the press, possibly given two blows apiece, early in 1793. Occasion: achievement of a reasonably satisfactory new design for the cent, after so much scurrilous newspaper criticism had been made of Henry Voigt's rather primitive Chain design."

Splendid medium olive surfaces show faint traces of delicate blue toning in the protected areas, with additional iridescence adding to the eye appeal. Both sides are prooflike, with mirrored fields and reflective devices. A delicate line of lamination crosses the right obverse field from the border to the tip of Liberty's nose. That feature has the appearance of a die crack, but is unobserved on any later die state example.

Provenance:

  • Ex: W.F. Johnson (6/1892);
  • Dr. Thomas Hall; W.S. Sisson (Henry Chapman, 4/1916), lot 988; 
  • Wayte Raymond (The United States Coin Co.); 
  • Henry C. Hines (1945); 
  • Dr. William H. Sheldon (4/1972); 
  • R.E. Naftzger, Jr. (New Netherlands Coin Co., 11/1973), lot 326; 
  • Stack's; later Stack's (10/1990), lot 1591; 
  • Anthony Terranova; Stack's; Larry Stack (Stack's/American Numismatic Rarities, 6/2004), lot 4028
$375,000.00
More Information
PCGS # 35447
Grading Service PCGS
Year of Issue 1793
Grade MS65
Denom Type Wreath Cent
Numeric Denomination 1C
Mint Location Philadelphia
Designation BN
Circ/UnCirc Uncirculated
Strike Type Business
Holder Variety S-5 Vine and Bars Edge
Grade Add On NONE
Holder Type N/A

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