1794 1C Ornate Head, S-28, BN (Regular Strike)
Series: Liberty Cap Cents 1793-1796
PCGS MS66BN
PCGS MS64BN
PCGS MS63+BN
- PCGS #:
- 35549
- 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:
- $588,000 • MS66BN • 08-18-2024 • Heritage Auctions
Die Varieties
- 1794 1C Flat Pole, S-21, BN
- 1794 1C Bent Lock, S-22, BN
- 1794 1C S-23, Shattered Obverse, BN
- 1794 1C Apple Cheek, S-24, BN
- 1794 1C Head of '94, S-24, RB
- 1794 1C Severed Locks, S-25, BN
- 1794 1C Severed Locks, S-26, BN
- 1794 1C Head of '94, S-26, RB
- 1794 1C Egeria, S-27, BN
- 1794 1C Ornate Head, S-28, BN
- 1794 1C Ornate Head, S-29, BN
- 1794 1C Marred Field, S-30, BN
- 1794 1C Marred Field, S-31, BN
- 1794 1C Venus Marina, S-32, BN
- 1794 1C Wheel Spoke, S-33, BN
- 1794 1C Upturned Locks, S-34, BN
- 1794 1C Delicate Lower Lock, S-35, BN
- 1794 1C Low Head, S-36, BN
- 1794 1C Steigerwalt, S-37, BN
- 1794 1C Marred Field, S-38, BN
- 1794 1C Marred Field, S-39, BN
- 1794 1C Marred Field, S-40, BN
- 1794 1C Abrupt Hair, S-41, BN
- 1794 1C Abrupt Hair, S-42, BN
- 1794 1C Head of '94, S-42, RB
- 1794 1C Short Bust, S-43, BN
- 1794 1C Short Bust, S-44, BN
- 1794 1C The Plicae, S-45, BN
- 1794 1C Head of '94, S-45, RB
- 1794 1C Crossed E, S-46, BN
- 1794 1C Head of '94, S-46, RB
- 1794 1C Short Bust, S-47, BN
- 1794 1C Short Bust, S-49, BN
- 1794 1C S-49, RB
- 1794 1C Young Head, S-50, BN
- 1794 1C Long Locks, S-51, BN
- 1794 1C Coquette, S-52, BN
- 1794 1C Severed Locks, S-53, BN
- 1794 1C Slanting 7, S-54, BN
- 1794 1C Big Berries, S-55, BN
- 1794 1C Office Boy Reverse, S-56, BN
- 1794 1C Pyramidal Hair, S-57, BN
- 1794 1C Head of '94, S-57, RB
- 1794 1C Many-Haired, S-58, BN
- 1794 1C Many-Haired, S-59, BN
- 1794 1C Head of '94, S-59, RB
- 1794 1C Patagonian, S-60, BN
- 1794 1C Patagonian, S-61, BN
- 1794 1C Head of '94, S-61, RB
- 1794 1C Trephined Head, S-62, BN
- 1794 1C Fallen 4, S-63, BN
- 1794 1C Shielded Hair, S-65, BN
- 1794 1C Split Pole, S-66, BN
- 1794 1C NC-1, BN
- 1794 1C NC-2, BN
- 1794 1C NC-5, BN
- 1794 1C NC-6, BN
- 1794 1C NC-8, BN
- 1794 1C NC-9, BN
- 1794 1C NC-10, BN
- 1794 1C NC-11, BN
Condition Census What Is This?
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#1 PCGS MS66BN
Supposedly discovered in the old United States Hotel in Chester, PA; Lyman H. Low, November 1905, Lot 70 - $23; "The Malcolm N. Jackson Collection," United States Coin Co., May 1913, Lot 1235 - $51; Carl Wurtzbach, sold privately in 1919; Virgil M. Brand; B.G. Johnson - Barney Bluestone; New Netherlands, sold privately on September 9, 1951; Harold Bareford sold privately on September 13, 1985 Herman Halpern, traded privately on December 11, 1986; R.E. “Ted” Naftzger, Jr., sold privately on February 23, 1992; Eric Streiner; Dr. Robert J. Shaolowitz; Anthony Terranova and Chris Victor-McCawley, sold privately, April1994; Dr. Thomas Turissini; Thomas D. Reynolds. S-28. Mint red in protected areas. Breen Large Cent Encyclopedia Plate Coin - Noyes Plate Coin |
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#2 PCGS MS64BN
Dennis E. Steinmetz; Steinmetz Coins & Currency, October 5, 1989; "The Douglas F. Bird Collection," Goldberg Auctioneers, February 2020, Lot 11 - $45,600; As PCGS MS64BN #37128542. "The Walter J. Husak Collection," Heritage Auctions, January 4, 2024, Lot 2022 - $45,600; Joseph O'Connor; Heritage Auctions, January 19, 2025, Lot 4383 - $56,400. S-28. Die State VI. |
|
#3 PCGS MS63+BN
Dennis E. Steinmetz, October 1989; Douglas Bird, January 1995; Dr. Robert J. Shalowitz; Chris Victor-McCawley, June 1995; G. Lee Kuntz; Chris Victor-McCawley. Walter J. Husak. As PCGS MS63BN #13457253: “The Walter J. Husak Collection,” Heritage Auctions, February 15, 2008, Lot 2030 – $40,250. As PCGS MS63+BN #26772319. "The Paul Gerrie Collection," Goldberg Auctioneers, February 2013, Lot 17 - $36,000; Daniel W. Trollan; "The Dan Trollan Collection of Liberty Cap Cents," Goldberg Auctioneers, January 27, 2019, Lot 122 - Passed; Daniel W. Trollan, May 2025; John Torres. S-28. Die State late I or early II. |
#4 PCGS MS63BN
As "Uncirculated." "The John Lyman Collection," Samuel Hudson Chapman, November 1913, Lot 401; Henry C. Hines; Henry C. Hines to Dr. William H. Sheldon in 1944; “The Charles M. Williams Collection,” Numismatic Gallery, November 1950, Lot 29 – $162.50. As "Not Quite Mint State 60." “The R.E. “Ted” Naftzger Collection,” New Netherlands, November 1973, Lot 351 – $2,000; RARCOA; Dennis Forgue; Thomas Werner; Stack’s, January 1987, Lot 837 – $5,280; Anthony Terranova; Superior Galleries, January 1989, Lot 3093 – $4,620; Larry Briggs. As PCGS MS63BN. “The Red Bank Collection,” American Numismatic Rarities, December 1, 2003, Lot 389 – $13,225; Heritage Auctions, August 2004, Lot 5092; “The Kennywood Collection,” American Numismatic Rarities, January 10, 2005, Lot 74 – $14,950; “The Dr. Robert Hesselgesser Collection,” Goldberg Auctioneers, February 2007, Lot 261; As PCGS MS63BN #13291618. “The Dan Holmes Collection, Part I,” Goldberg Auctioneers, September 2009, Lot 47; Chris Victor-McCawley, March 2010; “The Adam Mervis Large Cent Collection,” Heritage Auctions, January 10, 2014, Lot 2452 – $24,675. S-28. |
#5 PCGS MS62BN
"The Thomas D. Reynolds Collection," Goldberg Auctioneers, February 1, 2016, Lot 19 - $34,075; Greg Hannigan; Darrin Wood. S-28. Die State VI. |
| #5 PCGS MS62BN |
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#5 PCGS MS62BN
Heritage Auctions, April 26, 2006, Lot 241 – $20,125. S-28. Breen Die State IV. |
#8 PCGS MS61BN
Discovered in Europe in the 2025. Heritage Auctions, April 29, 2026, Lot 3009 - $21,960. S-28. Die State VIII. |
#8 PCGS MS61BN
S-28. |
The 1794 Liberty Cap Cent, Sheldon 28, Ornate Head
As is the case with many 1794 Liberty Cap Cent varieties, Dr. Edward Maris applied his penchant for descriptive names, dubbing this marriage the "Ornate Head." It was later given its more familiar designation, Sheldon-28 (#35549), by Dr. William Sheldon. This variety pairs Obverse 10 with Reverse G. While the reverse die was carried over from Sheldon-27 (Maris's "Egeria"; Breen-35546), it is more frequently encountered in this Sheldon-28 marriage. Obverse 10 would later be paired with Reverse H to create Sheldon-29 (#35552).
Sheldon-28 is distinguished by a simplified rendering of Liberty’s hair. Bill Noyes notes a specific diagnostic: a straight, perpendicular line can be drawn through the termination points of the third, fourth, fifth, seventh, and eighth hair curls. Additionally, LIBERTY is punched relatively high on the die, with the R situated 1.5 mm above the head. On later die states, faint cracks may be observed through the cap, hair, nose, and border.
Vintage Market Snippet
There is a famous bit of lore surrounding the finest-known example. According to auctioneer Lyman Low in his 1905 catalog for the Philip D. Hoch Collection, the "Ornate Head" cent on offer was accompanied by a statement asserting it was found at the site of the old United States Hotel in Chester, Pennsylvania, during its demolition years prior. The note claimed:
"Both Washington and Jefferson were patrons of this hostelry and on the way to their southern homes it was their custom to make a stopover there, sometimes occupying a certain room jointly. It was in this particular apartment that the cent was found. Possibly George and Thomas were matching or tossing pennies, and in the excitement that followed, this one rolled away unnoticed."
This claim is highly dubious. While the United States Hotel did exist (it was razed in May 1889) and both Washington and Jefferson are known to have stayed there—Washington famously wrote his report on the Battle of Brandywine at the hotel on the night of September 11, 1777—it is highly improbable that the President would share a room with Jefferson. Furthermore, Jefferson resigned as Secretary of State on December 31, 1793, and spent the entirety of 1794 at Monticello. Whether the story was met with healthy skepticism is anyone's guess; however, the coin—the finest known of the variety—likely sold on its own considerable merits.
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Regency XIX Preview | Legend Rare Coin Auctions | December 15, 2016
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