1794 1C Delicate Lower Lock, S-35, BN (Regular Strike)
Series: Liberty Cap Cents 1793-1796
PCGS AU50BN
PCGS XF40BN
PCGS VF25BN
- PCGS #:
- 35570
- 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:
- $64,625 • 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 AU50BN
Discovered in an Australian collection; Empire Coins June 1965; Eugene Exman; Eugene Exman to Dorothy I. Paschal for the Hines-Sheldon-Paschel example (but Paschal didn't send the coin!), December 13, 1966; Dorothy I. Paschal; Dr. William H. Sheldon, April 19, 1972; R.E. “Ted” Naftzger, Jr., February 23, 1992; Eric Streiner, January 1993 - $32,500; Tom Morley, October 1993 - $20,000; Dr. Robert A. Schuman, April 21, 1995; Dr. Allen Bennett, January 1999. As PCGS AU50 #13457260. “The Walter J. Husak Collection,” Heritage Auctions, February 2008, Lot 2037 – $46,000; Jon Alan Boka; As PCGS AU50 #81233639. “The Jon Alan Boka Collection of 1794 Large Cents,” Heritage Auctions, September 8, 2016, Lot 5320 – $64,625; Larry A. Bland; "The Del & Larry Bland Collection," Early Cents Auctions, September 3, 2022, Lot 511 - $66,000; Walter J. Husak; "The Collections of Walter J. Husak and the Liberty Cap Foundation," Heritage Auctions, January 4, 2024, Lot 2029 - $48,000. S-35. Die State VIII. Finest available to collectors. Obverse die is spectacularly shattered. |
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#1 Est. AU50BN
"Colonel" E.H.R. Green; Green Estate; B.G. Johnson, March 24, 1943 - $150; Abe Kosoff; Oscar J. Pearl; Numismatic Gallery Fixed Price List, 1944, Lot 46 - $250; George H. Clapp; George H. Clapp to American Numismatic Society, December 19, 1946; American Numismatic Society. S-35. Die State VI. Shattered die. Bold die clash images on both sides. Toning spots in the upper right obverse field. Thin diagonal scratch between S and O. Small nick between F and A. |
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#3 Est. XF45BN
As "Uncirculated." "The Henry C. Miller Collection," Thomas L. Elder, April 1917, Lot 680 - $60; Thomas L. Elder; Dr. George P. French, March 21, 1929; B. Max Mehl Fixed Price List, 1929, Lot 52 - $350; T. James Clarke, 1944; B. Max Mehl; B. Max Mehl, June 1945, Lot 1646 - $147.50; George H. Clapp; George H. Clapp to American Numismatic Society, December 19, 1946; American Numismatic Society. S-35. Rare example in Perfect Die State. Gouge on cap. Gouge below E of LIBERTY. Dull mark to the right of chin. Planchet void at 4 of the date. |
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#4 PCGS XF40BN
As "Fine." "The Édouard Frossard Collection," Edouard Frossard, October 3, 1884, Lot 900; - $420 (sold as set of lots 850 to 900); T. Harrison Garrett, to Robert and John Work Garrett, 1888; Robert Garrett interest to John Work Garrett, 1919; transfer completed 1921; John Work Garrett to the Johns Hopkins University, by gift, 1942; Johns Hopkins University, sold privately, March 1973; John W. Adams, March 1976; Denis W. Loring, May 7, 1983; Jack H. Robinson, January 23, 1988. As "VF30." "The J. R. Frankenfield Collection," Superior, February 17, 2001, Lot 230 -$32,200; Chris Victor McCawley, January 10, 2002; Colonel Steven K. Ellsworth; "The Colonel Steven Ellsworth Collection of U.S. Large Cents, 1793-1796," Heritage Auctions, January 8, 2026, Lot 2040 - $48,800. S-35. Die State VIII. Shattered obverse die with clashed images. |
The 1794 Liberty Cap Cent, Sheldon 35, The Frossard Variety
Sheldon 35 (#35570) was purportedly discovered by 19th-century numismatist and dealer Édouard Frossard and was nicknamed "The Frossard Variety" by early cent expert and author Dr. Edward Maris. Maris enjoyed imparting descriptive names to his varieties; while some of these references may stir confusion for the modern collector, naming a variety after its notable discoverer was a logical choice. It also highlights the intimate, interconnected nature of the hobby at the time—a romantic element of numismatics that today's early copper collectors rightly cherish.
This variety represents a pairing of new Obverse 14 and the return of Reverse L (previously seen on Sheldon 34, #35567). Sheldon 35 strikes initially began with a perfect die but quickly deteriorated, as evidenced by a jagged line bisecting the coin from north to south.
Notable diagnostic features include:
- The Date: Positioned very close to the denticles, with the 9 merging into them.
- The Lettering: The R is double-cut and touches the denticle.
- The Portrait: The hair detail features seven fine locks.
- The Shattered Die: When present, the crack begins at the rim above the leftmost tip of E, extending through the portrait and down to the denticle at the left tip of the 4. The crack is most pronounced at the coin’s center. Another prominent crack crosses over the cap.
Collecting the Sheldon 35
Sheldon 35 remains unknown in Mint State, though a few notable examples exist in the PCGS XF40 to PCGS AU50BN range. Two of the finest are held in the American Numismatic Society (ANS) Collection.
The finest specimen in private hands is the Exman-Paschal-Boka-Husak coin. This particular example carries a storied provenance; an unsatisfactory trade involving the piece is said to have ended the friendship between Exman and Paschal. In the intervening years, the coin has frequently changed hands in private transactions, yet it consistently commands spirited bidding whenever it appears at public auction.
While the "Exman" coin is shrouded in such history, most known examples lack this drama, typically appearing in grades of Fine or below.
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Regency XIX Preview | Legend Rare Coin Auctions | December 15, 2016
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