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

1794 1C Abrupt Hair, S-42, BN (Regular Strike)

Series: Liberty Cap Cents 1793-1796

PCGS XF45BN

PCGS XF45BN

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PCGS XF45BN

PCGS XF45BN

PCGS XF40BN

PCGS XF40BN

PCGS #:
35591
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:
$48,875 • AU58 • 02-01-2008 • Heritage Auctions
Major Varieties
Die Varieties

Condition Census What Is This?

Pos Grade Image Pedigree and History
1 PCGS AU58BN

Lorin Parmelee, July 1891; Dr. Thomas Hall, September 1909; Virgil M. Brand; New Netherlands Coin Co., October 1951, Lot 590 – $165; Dr. William H. Sheldon, April 1972; “The R.E. ‘Ted’ Naftzger, Jr. Collection,” New Netherlands Coin Co., November 1973, Lot 363 – $1,500; “The John W. Adams Collection,” Bowers and Ruddy, 1982 Fixed Price List, Lot 33 – $3,500; Denis W. Loring, May 1983; "The Jack Robinson Collection," Superior, January 1989, Lot 69 – $7,975; Dr. Allen Bennett, January 1998. As PCGS AU58BN #13457907. “The Walter J. Husak Collection,” Heritage Auctions, February 15, 2008, Lot 2044 – $48,875. As PCGS AU55BN #81233604. "The Jon Alan Boka Collection," Heritage Auctions, September 8, 2016, Lot 5327 – $37,600. S-42. Die State I. 
2 Est. AU53

William Strickland; Charles Winn (husband of Priscilla Strickland, son-in-law and cousin of William Strickland), by sale, 1834; Rowland Winn, 1st Baron St. Oswald of Nostell, by descent, 1874; Rowland Winn, 2nd Baron St. Oswald of Nostell, by descent, 1893; Rowland George Winn, 3rd Baron St. Oswald of Nostell, by descent, 1919; Rowland Denys Guy Winn, Major the Lord St. Oswald, M.C., by descent, 1957; “English, Foreign, and Important American Coins, the Property of Major the Lord St. Oswald, M.C.,” Christie, Manson, and Woods, Ltd., October 1964, Lot 146 – $336; Edwin Shapiro, via Lester Merkin; C. Douglas Smith, 1965; Alfred Bonard; C. Douglas Smith, October 31, 1968. Jules Reiver. As NGC AU58BN #1941087-008. “The Jules Reiver Collection,” Heritage Auctions, January 24, 2006, Lot 19203 – $34,500; Larry A. Bland; "The Del and Larry Bland Collection," Early Cents Auctions, September 3, 2022, Lot 514 - $50,400; Robert Kloesterboer. S-42. 
3 PCGS XF45BN

S-42.
3 PCGS XF45BN

Fred S. Werner, January 1972; Jackson C. Storm, August 1, 1984;  Robert E. Matthews • Superior Galleries, 5/1989, Lot 172 - $4,180; "The  Daniel W. Holmes, Jr. Collection," June 13, 2007; Chris Victor-McCawley;  As PCGS XF40BN #12597414. Heritage Auctions, January 7, 2009, Lot 177 - $9,200. As PCGS XF45BN #32777273. "The Thomas D. Reynolds Collection,"  Goldberg Auctioneers, January 31, 2016, Lot 26 - $9,987.50; "The Dan Trollan Collection," Goldberg Auctioneers, January 27, 2019, Lot 146 - $8,400; Daniel A. Demeo. S-42. Die State II.
5 PCGS XF40BN

As "XF40." "Stuart A. Levine Collection," Bowers & Merena March 5, 1998, Lot 118 -$2,200; Colonel Steven K. Ellsworth. As XF40 #43987697. "The Colonel Steven K. Ellsworth of U.S. Large Cents, 1793-1796," Heritage Auctions, January 8, 2026, Lot 2047 - $8,540; Douglas Durasoff. S-42. Die State II.
#1 PCGS AU58BN

Lorin Parmelee, July 1891; Dr. Thomas Hall, September 1909; Virgil M. Brand; New Netherlands Coin Co., October 1951, Lot 590 – $165; Dr. William H. Sheldon, April 1972; “The R.E. ‘Ted’ Naftzger, Jr. Collection,” New Netherlands Coin Co., November 1973, Lot 363 – $1,500; “The John W. Adams Collection,” Bowers and Ruddy, 1982 Fixed Price List, Lot 33 – $3,500; Denis W. Loring, May 1983; "The Jack Robinson Collection," Superior, January 1989, Lot 69 – $7,975; Dr. Allen Bennett, January 1998. As PCGS AU58BN #13457907. “The Walter J. Husak Collection,” Heritage Auctions, February 15, 2008, Lot 2044 – $48,875. As PCGS AU55BN #81233604. "The Jon Alan Boka Collection," Heritage Auctions, September 8, 2016, Lot 5327 – $37,600. S-42. Die State I. 
#2 Est. AU53

William Strickland; Charles Winn (husband of Priscilla Strickland, son-in-law and cousin of William Strickland), by sale, 1834; Rowland Winn, 1st Baron St. Oswald of Nostell, by descent, 1874; Rowland Winn, 2nd Baron St. Oswald of Nostell, by descent, 1893; Rowland George Winn, 3rd Baron St. Oswald of Nostell, by descent, 1919; Rowland Denys Guy Winn, Major the Lord St. Oswald, M.C., by descent, 1957; “English, Foreign, and Important American Coins, the Property of Major the Lord St. Oswald, M.C.,” Christie, Manson, and Woods, Ltd., October 1964, Lot 146 – $336; Edwin Shapiro, via Lester Merkin; C. Douglas Smith, 1965; Alfred Bonard; C. Douglas Smith, October 31, 1968. Jules Reiver. As NGC AU58BN #1941087-008. “The Jules Reiver Collection,” Heritage Auctions, January 24, 2006, Lot 19203 – $34,500; Larry A. Bland; "The Del and Larry Bland Collection," Early Cents Auctions, September 3, 2022, Lot 514 - $50,400; Robert Kloesterboer. S-42. 
#3 PCGS XF45BN

S-42.
#3 PCGS XF45BN

Fred S. Werner, January 1972; Jackson C. Storm, August 1, 1984;  Robert E. Matthews • Superior Galleries, 5/1989, Lot 172 - $4,180; "The  Daniel W. Holmes, Jr. Collection," June 13, 2007; Chris Victor-McCawley;  As PCGS XF40BN #12597414. Heritage Auctions, January 7, 2009, Lot 177 - $9,200. As PCGS XF45BN #32777273. "The Thomas D. Reynolds Collection,"  Goldberg Auctioneers, January 31, 2016, Lot 26 - $9,987.50; "The Dan Trollan Collection," Goldberg Auctioneers, January 27, 2019, Lot 146 - $8,400; Daniel A. Demeo. S-42. Die State II.
#5 PCGS XF40BN

As "XF40." "Stuart A. Levine Collection," Bowers & Merena March 5, 1998, Lot 118 -$2,200; Colonel Steven K. Ellsworth. As XF40 #43987697. "The Colonel Steven K. Ellsworth of U.S. Large Cents, 1793-1796," Heritage Auctions, January 8, 2026, Lot 2047 - $8,540; Douglas Durasoff. S-42. Die State II.
Charles Morgan:

The 1794 Liberty Cap Cent, Sheldon 42, Abrupt Hair

While Dr. William H. Sheldon sequenced the S-42 (#35591) after the S-41 (#35588), a close study of die states indicates that the S-42 was actually struck first.

  • S-42 (The Early State): Most examples were struck with the obverse die in a nearly perfect state. Some early specimens exhibit faint clash marks between the Liberty cap and the hair.
  • S-41 (The Later State): By the time the die was used for S-41, these clash marks were often "lapped" (polished) off. In its latest stages, the die developed distinct cracks starting at the date, extending to the shoulder loop, and appearing near Liberty’s brow.

The Reverse: "Weak OF"

Identification of the S-42 relies primarily on Reverse R. This is the first of two varieties (the other being S-43. #35594) to utilize this die. To distinguish the S-42 from the S-41, look for these three key indicators:

  • Berry Count: Unlike the S-41, Reverse R features exactly six berries on each side of the wreath.
  • The Center Dot: A common characteristic of 1794 cents, the center dot on this variety is uniquely merged into the top-left serif of the "N" in CENT.
  • The "Weak OF": This variety is nicknamed the "Weak OF" because the word OF in the legend is poorly defined and significantly fainter than the surrounding lettering.

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

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