1793 1C Chain, AMERI., BN (Regular Strike)

Denis Loring: The Chain AMERI often comes with a very weak date. In fact, several are known with the sharpness of Very Good but the date is completely gone. There is also a rare late die state with a rim break over TAT. As the first regular issue United States coin, the Chain AMERI is always in demand.

David Hall:

The remarkable Gem AMERI graded SP65BN by PCGS is from the incredible Ted Naftzger collection. The Naftzger collection was not only the greatest large cent collection ever assembled, it was one of the greatest coin collections ever assembled. Naftzger worked dilligenty on his set for 40 years and what he accomplished may never be duplicated. The SP65 Chain AMERI literally has semi-PL surfaces. It is amazing that a Chain cent could survive in such outstanding condition.

Ron Guth:

According to Sheldon and Breen, the AMERI. variety was the first of the Chain Cents (the obverse die was used later with a reverse with AMERICA spelled completely). Why the abbreviation? The spacing of the reverse suggests that the engraver began the word AMERICA too high on the die. Had AMERICA been spelled out completely, it would have ended too close to UNITED (the spacing on the later reverse has AMERICA starting lower on the die). Breen repeats the speculation that the abbreviation was deliberate, following the style of the unfinished pyramid on the Great Seal of the United States, but there is no evidence to support such an association.

This was the only use of the reverse die which, in a later state, shows a crack over TATE of STATES that eventually develops into a rim cud. The obverse die was used later on Sheldon 2.

Sources and/or recommended reading: "Penny Whimsy" by Dr. William H. Sheldon

"Walter Breen's Encyclopedia of Early United States Cents 1793-1814" by Walter Breen

Gordon Wrubel: Chain cents were the first mass produced, regular issue coins stuck at the fledgling US Mint. A total of 36,103 were coined from February 27 to March 12, 1793. The Liberty Head obverse and Chain reverse designs were were severely criticized by many observers of the day. The acute need for a standard coinage, however, assured wide circulation through all fifteen States at the time. Chain cents can exist in high Mint State grades, perhaps saved for posterity as first year issues. But most survivors are lower grade. In the lowest grades, the date and legends are sometimes worn to the point where little more than the Chain and some of the letters "ONE CENT" within it are distinguishable. This makes variety attribution extremely difficult, if not impossible, in cases where only a shadow of the Chain exists.

Quickfinder Notes: The first Chain cents struck are considered to be the AMERI. variety, Sheldon 1. On well worn examples, where the word AMERI. is not distinguishable, the variety may still be able to be determined by checking the "C" of "CENT". The baseline of the C will be BELOW the baseline of the adjacent E. If even a shadow of the A in AMERI. is discernible, it will be in the 8:00 position. On the other reverse used on Chain cents, the "AMERICA" reverse, Sheldon 2, NC-1, 3 and 4, the baseline of the C is slightly ABOVE the baseline of the adjacent E. If the first A in AMERICA is distinguishable, it will be in the 7:30 position.

Charles Morgan:

The 1793 Chain Cent, AMERI. Sheldon-1

The 1793 Chain Cent, occasionally referred to as the “Link” Cent in 19th-century numismatic literature, was the first regular-issue one-cent coin produced by the United States Mint. Struck at the first Philadelphia Mint facility and most likely included in the March 1 delivery, it holds the distinction of being the first federal coin struck for circulation.

While the dies were executed by Henry Voigt (sometimes spelled Voight), the first Chief Coiner, the obverse was inspired by the Libertas Americana medal designed by the famed French engraver Augustin Dupré. The obverse depicts Liberty with "flowing" hair, the inscription LIBERTY above, and the date 1793 below the bust truncation.

The reverse displays a chain of 15 interlocking links, symbolizing the 15 states in the Union in 1793, which encloses the denomination ONE CENT. The legend is spelled UNITED STATES OF AMERI. on the Sheldon-1 and UNITED STATES OF AMERICA on Sheldon-2 through Sheldon-4. This inscription encircles the central motif clockwise from the top of the coin.

The design was poorly received by the public. Critics decried the reverse as "Liberty in chains," perhaps a subtle nod to the ongoing slave trade or a more general fear of federal overreach. A contemporary report from Newark noted:

"The American Cents... do not answer our expectations. The chain on the reverse is but a bad omen for liberty, and Liberty herself appears to be in a fright."

A similar sentiment appeared in the March 18, 1793, edition of Philadelphia’s The Mail, which stated:

"The chain on the reverse is but a bad omen for liberty."

1793 Chain Cent Deliveries
March 1, 1793	11,178 delivered	March 2, 1793	2,009 delivered
March 4, 1793	4,000 delivered	March 5, 1793	3,765 delivered
March 6, 1793	1,573 delivered	March 8, 1793	7,000 delivered
March 8, 1793	7,000 delivered	March 9, 1793	1,000 delivered
March 12, 1793	5,578 delivered	Total: 36,103 coins

Over the twelve-day production period, 36,103 pieces were struck using five distinct die combinations. The initial delivery on March 1 largely consisted of the AMERI. variety (S-1). The subsequent four varieties utilized a reverse die where "AMERICA" was spelled out in full. These inaugural coins were struck in relatively low relief; their successor, the Wreath cent, would feature a more robust, higher-relief design.

Ameri. (S-1) Die Chararacteristics

Rarity 4. Wide date on the obverse. LIBERTY is evenly spaced and positioned equidistant between the top of Liberty’s head and the rim. The lowest lock of hair points directly down toward the 1 in the date. This obverse die was also utilized for the Sheldon-2 die pairing. This is the only use of the reverse die featuring the AMERI. abbreviation.

In Die State Noyes A/B (Breen III), a light crack appears at the upper left of the first T in STATES, with a light bulge at the border above the U in UNITED. A separate bulge appears at the lower border through the 1 in the date. There are an estimated 118–158 specimens extant. Later die states exhibit swelling under the U on the reverse and a cud that forms above TAT in STATES.

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