1794 1C Upturned Locks, S-34, BN (Regular Strike)
Series: Liberty Cap Cents 1793-1796
PCGS XF45BN
PCGS VF20BN
PCGS F15BN
- PCGS #:
- 35567
- 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:
- $58,750 • VF30BN • 09-07-2016 • 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 XF45
Dr. Thomas Hall; W.W. Hays; Dr. Thomas Hall, September 7, 1909; Virgil M. Brand, February 7, 1941; B.G. Johnson, September 28. 1943 – $50; Thomas Elder; Oscar Pearl; Numismatic Gallery, 1944 Fixed Price List, Lot 45 – $95; Dr. William H. Sheldon; Sheldon to ANS, via illicit exchange, c. 1950; ANS returned to R.E. "Ted" Naftzger, Jr. as part of legal settlment in exchange for the stolen coin Clapp coin, January 2001; R.E. “Ted” Naftzger, Jr., February 2001; As PCGS XF45BN #13457259. “The Walter J. Husak Collection,” Heritage Auctions, February 15, 2008, Lot 2036 – $54,625. As PCGS XF45 #81233638. Jon Alan Boka; “The Jon Alan Boka Collection of 1794 Large Cents,” Heritage Auctions, September 8, 2016, Lot 5319 – $58,750. Larry A. Bland; "The Del & Larry Bland Collection of 1794 Large Cents," Early Cents Auctions, September 3, 2022, Lot 510 - $78,000; Colonel Steven K. Ellsworth; "The Colonel Steven K. Ellsworth Collection of U.S. Large Cents, 1793-1796," Heritage Auctions, Janaury 8, 2026, Lot 2039 - $85,400. Richard A. Weber. S-34. Die State III. Finest known.
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#2 Est. XF40
As "Uncirculated. Finely patinated..." "The A.E.L. Keese Collection," Dr. Geo. W. Massamore, November 1895, Lot 351 $10.50 • W.W. Hays, 1900; Charles T. Steigerwalt, 1906. As "Very fine; a delicate uniform corrosion... alone prevents higher grading." "The Charles G. Zug Collection," Lyman H. Low, March 7, 1907, Lot 28 - $15.50. As "Extra Fine." "The W.B. Guy Collection," Henry Chapman, November 4, 1911, Lot 398 - $34; Dr. George P. French, March 21, 1929 • B. Max Mehl Fixed Price List, 1929 Lot 51 - $300; T. James Clarke, 1944; B. Max Mehl; Dr. William H. Sheldon, March 25, 1945; George H. Clapp; George H. Clapp to American Numismatic Society, December 19, 1946; American Numismatic Society; Dr. William H. Sheldon via illicit exchange, c. 1950; Returned to the American Numismatic Society in 2001, following research by Del Bland and a legal fight - View. S-34. John G. Keese was a prominent collector from Washington, D.C., whose collection was dispersed by George W. Massamore in Baltimore, Maryland. Another former owner, W.W. Guy, was a collector from Connecticut; it is fascinating to observe the geographical reach of such a collectible coin at the turn of the 20th century. Even more noteworthy is this coin's involvement in the notorious Sheldon-ANS affair. Lyman Low’s original description of the coin as having "corrosion" remains apt, as the surface granularity distracts from what would otherwise be a wholesome example. In my view (Charles Morgan), it is doubtful that this specimen possesses a superior strike or greater detail than the PCGS XF45 example, despite differing opinions within the early copper community. |
#3 PCGS Genuine - AU Details
Linda Schuster (unattributed), 2011; Ira & Larry Goldberg Auctioneers, January 31, 2011, Lot 775 - $42,550; Walter J. Husak; As PCGS GENUINE AU DETAILS #43023840 Heritage Auctions, Janaury 4, 2024, Lot 2028 - $28,800; Chris Victor-McCawley, May 17, 2024; Robert A. Klosterboer. S-34. State II. PCGS Notes that corrosion was removed. The coin may also have been cleaned and recolored at some point. Sharp details will likely offset the negatives for the advanced specialist. |
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#4 PCGS VF20
S-34. |
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#5 PCGS F15
Numismatic Gallery, January 2,1948; Willard C. Blaisdell; Del Bland; Dr. Robert J. Shalowitz; Dr. Robert J. Shalowitz to Dr. C.R. Chambers. As "Very Good 10." "The Jack H. Robinson Collection," Superior, January 1989, Lot 56 - $5,280; "The Daniel W. Holmes, Jr. Collection," Goldberg Auctioneers, September 2009, Lot 55. As PCGS F15 #38415964. "The Bellevue Collection," Heritage Auctions, January 8, 2020, Lot 3084 - $10,200; Kimble Widmer; "The Widmer Family Collection," Stack's Bowers, March 10, 2026, Lot 2086 - $9,900. S-34. Die State III. |
The 1794 Liberty Cap Cent, Sheldon 34
The scarce Sheldon 34 (#35567) continues the use of Obverse 13 (previously seen on the S-32, #35561 and S-33, #35564), this time paired with Reverse L. The obverse hair detail remains consistent, specifically featuring a doubled fifth lock from the bottom, while the fourth and sixth locks turn upward.
Key diagnostics for this variety include:
- Obverse Die States: A prominent rim break and cud are located above the "LI" of LIBERTY, with a secondary crack extending from the cud toward the cap. An additional rim break typically develops in the area of the Liberty cap.
- Reverse (L): This wreath features five berries on the left and six on the right. The ribbon bow is positioned notably to the left of the knot, nearly missing the connection point, with a single berry located immediately to the left of the bow.
Collecting the Sheldon-34
The extant population of Sheldon-34 cents is dominated by examples in low circulated grades, typically Good or Good Details. The variety remains elusive in any grade above Fine.
Depending on personal taste, the finest known example is either the Keese-Clapp specimen, currently held in the American Numismatic Society (ANS) Collection, or the Thomas Hall example graded PCGS XF45. Dr. William Sheldon clearly preferred the ANS coin, as he famously stole it and replaced it with the Hall specimen. Fortunately, large cent specialist and noted researcher Del Bland eventually untangled the illicit trade, leading to a legal settlement where the Clapp Collection was restored. This occurred much to the chagrin of R.E. "Ted" Naftzger, Jr., who had purchased the coins from Sheldon in the 1970s and had to return them.
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Regency XIX Preview | Legend Rare Coin Auctions | December 15, 2016
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