1794 1C Head of 1793, BN
1794 1C Head of 1795, BN

1794 1C Severed Locks, S-26, BN (Regular Strike)

Series: Liberty Cap Cents 1793-1796

PCGS MS66+BN

PCGS MS66+BN

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PCGS MS66BN

PCGS MS66BN

PCGS MS65BN

PCGS MS65BN

PCGS #:
35543
Designer:
Attributed to Robert Scot
Edge:
Lettered: ONE HUNDRED FOR A DOLLAR
Diameter:
28.00 millimeters
Weight:
13.48 grams
Mintage:
918,521
Mint:
Philadelphia
Metal:
Copper
Auction Record:
$97,750 • MS65 • 02-01-2008 • Heritage Auctions
Major Varieties
Die Varieties

Condition Census What Is This?

Pos Grade Image Pedigree and History
1 PCGS MS66+BN
2 PCGS MS65BN

“The George W. Merritt Collection,” Édouard Frossard, January 1879, Lot 98 – $12.50. As "Uncirculated, in part red." "The George H. Blanchard Collection," W. Elliot Woodward, December 1882, Lot 358 – $9.25. As "Sharp and Uncirculated." “The E.F. Kuithan Collection,” Édouard Frossard, June 1883, Lot 248 – $18.75; “The Édouard Frossard Collection,” Édouard Frossard, October 1884, Lot 868; T. Harrison Garrett; Robert Garrett, 1919; John Work Garrett; Johns Hopkins University, privately, 1973; “The John W. Adams Collection,” Bowers and Ruddy, 1982 Fixed Price List, Lot 19 – $9,000; Del Bland, November 1984; Dr. Allen Bennett, April 1992; Eric Streiner; Superior, October 1992, Lot 64 – $15,400; Anthony Terranova. As PCGS MS65BN #13457251. “The Walter J. Husak Collection,” February 15, 2008, Lot 2028 – $97,750; "The Paul Gerrie Collection," Goldberg Auctioneers, February 2013, Lot 16 - $126.500; Goldberg Auctioneers, May 2015, Lot 175 - $83,718.75. S-26. Die State IV. 
3 PCGS AU58BN

Dr. Robert J. Shalowitz. As "Extremely Fine 45." Superior Galleries, August 1, 2002, Lot 210 - $4,600. As PCGS AU58. Superior Galleries, May 25, 2003, Lot 368 - $6,900. As PCGS AU58BN #43987692. "The Colonel Steven Ellsworth Collection of U.S. Large Cents, 1793-1796," Heritage Auctions, January 8, 2026, Lot 2031 - $15,250. S-26. 
3 PCGS AU58BN

(possibly) Charles M. Williams; Unknown Intermediaries. As NGC AU58BN #5905532-003. Heritage Auctions, January 2021, Lot 3315 - $13,200. As PCGS AU58BN #41201440. Stack's Bowers, June 16, 2021, Lot 1276 - $20,400. S-26.
3 PCGS AU58BN

"The Dr. George P. French Collection,"  B. Max Mehl 1929 FPL, lot 44; "The T. James Clarke Collection," sold privately in 1944;  B. Max Mehl; Dr. William H. Sheldon, sold privately in 1945;  Ernest Henderson, Sheraton Coin Co.. As "About Uncirculated." 1947 ANA Sale, Numismatic Gallery, Lot 797; Harold E. Whiteneck (Sheraton Coin Co.); R.E. "Ted" Naftzger, Jr.; Abe Kosoff, April 1956, Lot 17 - "Mrs. R. Henry Norweb Collection," Bowers & Merena November 1988, Lot 2703; Hanks & Associates; Kenneth Alterman; Hanks & Associates; Anthony Terranova & Chris Victor-McCawley. As "AU50." "The Gary Ruttenberg Sale of United States Half Cents and Large Cents, Part II," McCawley & Grellman Auctions, August 1996, Lot 79; Jack Wadlington, via Bob Grellman & Chris Victor-McCawley, June 2005; "The Daniel W. Holmes, Jr. Collection," Goldberg Auctioneers, September 2009, Lot 44 - $21,275. S-26. Breen Die State VI. 
3 AU58 estimated grade

As "Extremely Fine." "The Frank D. Taylor Collection,” Henry Chapman, June 18, 1908, Lot 27 – $17.50. As "Uncirculated." “The Howard Newcomb Collection, Part I,” J.C. Morgenthau, February 8, 1945, Lot 38 – $50; L. Ward Hicks; Robert Bender. As "Almost Uncirculated 55/55*." Heritage, July 1988, Lot 47. As NGC AU58BN #136259-003. Heritage Auctions, January 7, 2015, Lot 3102 – $18,212.50. S-26. Early die state. 
7 PCGS AU55BN

"The George M. Klein Collection," W. Elliot Woodward, May 1888, Lot 2007; "The John P. Lyman Collection," Samuel Hudson Chapman, November 1913, Lot 400; Henry C. Hines; T. James Clarke, sold privately in October 1954; "The R.E. "Ted" Naftzger, Jr. Collection," New Netherlands, November 14, 1973, Lot 348; Pine Tree Auction Co., February 1975, Lot 614; John W. Adams; Dr. Robert J. Shalowitz; Ed Hipps; "Auction '90," Stack's, August 1990, Lot 27; Stack's 1991 Fixed Price List, Lot 11; "The Thomas D. Reynolds Collection," Goldbergs, January 2016, Lot 17 - $24,675; "The Dan Trollan Collection," Goldberg Auctioneers, January 2019, Lot 116 - Passed. S-26.
7 PCGS AU55BN

Thomas D. Reynolds; Chris Victor-McCawley, January 2002. As PCGS AU55BN #38415970. "The Bellevue Collection," Heritage Auctions, January 12, 2010, Lot 3077 - $9,600. S-26. Breen Die State V. 
7 PCGS AU55BN

S-26. 
7 PCGS AU55BN

Heritage Auctions, September 7, 2016, Lot 5311 - $19,975. S-26. Die State VII.
#1 PCGS MS66+BN
#2 PCGS MS65BN

“The George W. Merritt Collection,” Édouard Frossard, January 1879, Lot 98 – $12.50. As "Uncirculated, in part red." "The George H. Blanchard Collection," W. Elliot Woodward, December 1882, Lot 358 – $9.25. As "Sharp and Uncirculated." “The E.F. Kuithan Collection,” Édouard Frossard, June 1883, Lot 248 – $18.75; “The Édouard Frossard Collection,” Édouard Frossard, October 1884, Lot 868; T. Harrison Garrett; Robert Garrett, 1919; John Work Garrett; Johns Hopkins University, privately, 1973; “The John W. Adams Collection,” Bowers and Ruddy, 1982 Fixed Price List, Lot 19 – $9,000; Del Bland, November 1984; Dr. Allen Bennett, April 1992; Eric Streiner; Superior, October 1992, Lot 64 – $15,400; Anthony Terranova. As PCGS MS65BN #13457251. “The Walter J. Husak Collection,” February 15, 2008, Lot 2028 – $97,750; "The Paul Gerrie Collection," Goldberg Auctioneers, February 2013, Lot 16 - $126.500; Goldberg Auctioneers, May 2015, Lot 175 - $83,718.75. S-26. Die State IV. 
#3 PCGS AU58BN

Dr. Robert J. Shalowitz. As "Extremely Fine 45." Superior Galleries, August 1, 2002, Lot 210 - $4,600. As PCGS AU58. Superior Galleries, May 25, 2003, Lot 368 - $6,900. As PCGS AU58BN #43987692. "The Colonel Steven Ellsworth Collection of U.S. Large Cents, 1793-1796," Heritage Auctions, January 8, 2026, Lot 2031 - $15,250. S-26. 
#3 PCGS AU58BN

(possibly) Charles M. Williams; Unknown Intermediaries. As NGC AU58BN #5905532-003. Heritage Auctions, January 2021, Lot 3315 - $13,200. As PCGS AU58BN #41201440. Stack's Bowers, June 16, 2021, Lot 1276 - $20,400. S-26.
#3 PCGS AU58BN

"The Dr. George P. French Collection,"  B. Max Mehl 1929 FPL, lot 44; "The T. James Clarke Collection," sold privately in 1944;  B. Max Mehl; Dr. William H. Sheldon, sold privately in 1945;  Ernest Henderson, Sheraton Coin Co.. As "About Uncirculated." 1947 ANA Sale, Numismatic Gallery, Lot 797; Harold E. Whiteneck (Sheraton Coin Co.); R.E. "Ted" Naftzger, Jr.; Abe Kosoff, April 1956, Lot 17 - "Mrs. R. Henry Norweb Collection," Bowers & Merena November 1988, Lot 2703; Hanks & Associates; Kenneth Alterman; Hanks & Associates; Anthony Terranova & Chris Victor-McCawley. As "AU50." "The Gary Ruttenberg Sale of United States Half Cents and Large Cents, Part II," McCawley & Grellman Auctions, August 1996, Lot 79; Jack Wadlington, via Bob Grellman & Chris Victor-McCawley, June 2005; "The Daniel W. Holmes, Jr. Collection," Goldberg Auctioneers, September 2009, Lot 44 - $21,275. S-26. Breen Die State VI. 
#3 AU58 estimated grade

As "Extremely Fine." "The Frank D. Taylor Collection,” Henry Chapman, June 18, 1908, Lot 27 – $17.50. As "Uncirculated." “The Howard Newcomb Collection, Part I,” J.C. Morgenthau, February 8, 1945, Lot 38 – $50; L. Ward Hicks; Robert Bender. As "Almost Uncirculated 55/55*." Heritage, July 1988, Lot 47. As NGC AU58BN #136259-003. Heritage Auctions, January 7, 2015, Lot 3102 – $18,212.50. S-26. Early die state. 
#7 PCGS AU55BN

"The George M. Klein Collection," W. Elliot Woodward, May 1888, Lot 2007; "The John P. Lyman Collection," Samuel Hudson Chapman, November 1913, Lot 400; Henry C. Hines; T. James Clarke, sold privately in October 1954; "The R.E. "Ted" Naftzger, Jr. Collection," New Netherlands, November 14, 1973, Lot 348; Pine Tree Auction Co., February 1975, Lot 614; John W. Adams; Dr. Robert J. Shalowitz; Ed Hipps; "Auction '90," Stack's, August 1990, Lot 27; Stack's 1991 Fixed Price List, Lot 11; "The Thomas D. Reynolds Collection," Goldbergs, January 2016, Lot 17 - $24,675; "The Dan Trollan Collection," Goldberg Auctioneers, January 2019, Lot 116 - Passed. S-26.
#7 PCGS AU55BN

Thomas D. Reynolds; Chris Victor-McCawley, January 2002. As PCGS AU55BN #38415970. "The Bellevue Collection," Heritage Auctions, January 12, 2010, Lot 3077 - $9,600. S-26. Breen Die State V. 
#7 PCGS AU55BN

S-26. 
#7 PCGS AU55BN

Heritage Auctions, September 7, 2016, Lot 5311 - $19,975. S-26. Die State VII.
Charles Morgan:

The 1794 Liberty Cap Cent, Sheldon 26, Second Severed Locks

Sheldon 26 (#35543) is the second "Severed Locks" variety, named for the fine strands of Liberty's hair that appear disconnected (the result of grounding the die to remove die clash images). This marks the third and final use of Obverse 8, which debuted on Sheldon 25 (the first Severed Locks variety, #35540) and was also utilized for the rare Sheldon NC-8 (#35672). The small cud between L and I remains visible on Sheldon 26, though it appears smaller and less triangular.

The reverse die is Reverse F, which failed spectacularly during production; this resulted in a prominent crack from the rim through the first S of STATES to the top of the C in CENT, and from the rim through the E to the top of the wreath. Two-thirds of known examples exhibit this crack. Additionally, note the presence of several die-clash images. This is a fairly common die marriage, though it boasts two gem examples in Mint State Red-Brown (#35544). Despite this impressive feat of survivability, the variety’s quality drops off quickly, falling out of Mint State halfway through the PCGS Condition Census.

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Regency XIX Preview | Legend Rare Coin Auctions | December 15, 2016

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