1793 1C Wreath, Vine and Bars, BN MS(PCGS#1347)

Summer 2026 Global Showcase Auction U.S. Coins

Auctioneer

Stack's Bowers

Lot Number

2023

Grade

AU50BN

Price

24,400

Lot Description

Breen Die State II. This overall boldly to sharply defined example has much to offer high grade collectors in both the type and early copper disciplines. The otherwise evenly toned steely-copper surfaces exhibit a hint of slightly lighter walnut brown at upper obverse. Nicely centered on the obverse, the reverse impression is off center to 12 o'clock with scant beading along the upper border. A bit of ancient verdigris has nestled within a flan flaw on the edge just past 12 o'clock on the reverse, this being the only mentionable blemish on otherwise smooth-looking surfaces.<p>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 36,101 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.<p>Sheldon-8 is one of the more frequently encountered die marriages of the 1793 Wreath cent, Walter Breen (<em>Encyclopedia of United States Large Cents: 1793-1814</em>, 2000) asserting that production of this variety was included among the 6,112 cents that the Mint delivered on April 13, 1793. This variety is most readily identifiable by the curved stem in the sprig that parallels the date on the obverse and the heavy, triangular bow at the base of the wreath on the reverse. As a one year design type from the first year of U.S. large cent production, of course, all 1793 Wreath cents are scarce to rare from a market availability standpoint. As an attractive PCGS-certified About Uncirculated survivor the present example is destined to perform well at auction.