1793 1C Chain, S-3, BN MS(PCGS#35438)

March 2016 Baltimore Auction

拍卖行

Stack's Bowers

批号

13014

等级

VG10BN

价格

57,094

详细说明

1793 Flowing Hair Cent. Chain Reverse. S-3. Rarity-3-. AMERICA, Without Periods. VG-10 BN (NGC). A well balanced example of this classic one year type from the earliest days of U.S. Mint operations. Evenly toned deep copper surfaces retain at least outline definition to all devices save for just a few of the letters in the word UNITED on the reverse. Liberty's portrait and the date on the obverse are bold, as is the word LIBERTY, and the reverse chain is sharp, as typically seen even in lower grade survivors of this issue. A bit rough in texture with scattered nicks, digs, and a shallow reverse disturbance outside the letters ERI in AMERICA. Coin production at the newly built Philadelphia Mint commenced on March 1, 1793 with the Flowing Hair large cents with chain reverse. Engraved by Henry Voigt, the obverse of the new cents features Liberty with flowing if somewhat unkempt hair facing right with LIBERTY above and 1793 below. The reverse was a simple design with a large chain comprising of 15 interconnected links encapsulating ONE CENT and 1/100. Four obverse dies were paired with three reverse dies in five known marriages, the first of which used the abbreviation AMERI. in the legend, which was changed on the subsequent two reverse dies to completely spell out AMERICA. While the intent of the chain design was to convey the sense of the unity among the states, it was instead thought to allude to slavery, especially after some coins showed strong die clashing making it appear as if Liberty was surrounded by chains. The obverse, too, was roundly criticized with many contemporaries stating it looked as if she was in a fright. Coinage of the Chain cents ceased on March 12 after coining 36,103 pieces, barely two weeks after production started and was replaced with a more refined representation of Liberty and a wreath reverse. Of the four Sheldon varieties bearing the AMERICA reverse, one (NC-1) is effectively uncollectible and the other three, to include S-3 as here, are all scarce and keenly pursued. Like most early cents, the Chain cents spent a long and very hard life in commerce with the vast majority in the very lowest circulated grade levels and often heavily damaged. Eagerly collected in grades as low as Poor and long coveted by generations of numismatists, here is a chance to obtain an example of this historic and beloved issue. PCGS# 1341. NGC ID: 223F.