1794 1C The Plicae, S-45, BN (Regular Strike)
Series: Liberty Cap Cents 1793-1796
PCGS MS62BN
PCGS AU53BN
PCGS F15BN
- PCGS #:
- 35600
- 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:
- $66,000 • MS62BN • 01-04-2024 • 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?
|
#1 PCGS MS62BN
Charles I. Bushnell; Lorin G. Parmelee. As "Uncirculated." "The Charles I. Bushnell Collection," Samuel Hudson & Henry Chapman June 20, 1882, Lot 2622 - $20. "Showing but faint traces of circulation." "The Lorin G. Parmelee Collection," New York Coin & Stamp Co., June 25, 1890, Lot 692 - $24. As "Extremely Fine to Uncirculated." "The James B. Wilson Collection," Thomas L. Elder October 5, 1908, Lot 991. "Uncirculated, a medium brown." "The Ebenezer Gilbert Collection," Thomas L. Elder October 12, 1910, Lot 47 - H.O. Granberg; William H. Woodin; "Catalogue of the Superb Collection of United States Coins Belonging to a Prominent American (Woodin)," The United States Coin Co., May 19, 1915, Lot 133 - $135; Henry C. Hines; Dr. William H. Sheldon; Dorothy I. Paschal; John W. Adams; Bowers & Ruddy Galleries 1982 Fixed Price List, Lot 39; Del Bland, March 15, 1985; Bertram M. Cohen; Dr. George E. Ewing, Jr.; Darwin B. Palmer, Jr., April 1995. As PCGS MS62BN #37592637. "The Douglas F. Bird Collection," Goldberg Auctions, February 16, 2020, Lot 15; - $50,400; "The Collections of Walter J. Husak and the Liberty Cap Foundation," Heritage Auctions, January 4, 2024, Lot 2039 - $66,000; Robert A. Klosterboer. S-45. |
|
#2 PCGS AU53BN
S-45. |
|
#3 Est. XF40
As "Very Fine." "The Henry C. Miller Collection," Thomas L. Elder, April 14, 1917, Lot 697 - $30. As "Extremely Fine." "The Howard R. Newcomb Collection," J. C. Morgenthau & Co., February 1945, Lot 62 - $65; George H. Clapp; Geroge H. Clapp to American Numismatic Society, December 19, 1946; American Numismatic Society - View. S-45. State II. Mottled dark toning covering the top of Liberty's head to the rim and near 2 o'clock. Reverse lettering weak. |
#4 PCGS VF Details
Chris Victor-McCawley, July 2013; Mark Cadden, December 15, 2013. Mark Cadden to Jon Alan Boka in trade. As PCGS VF Details #81233607. "The Jon Alan Boka Collection of 1794 Large Cents," Heritage Auctions, September 8, 2016, Lot 5330 - $12,925; Christopher F. Pretsch, 2024; Chris Victor-McCawley. S-45. Die State II. |
The 1794 Liberty Cap Cent, Sheldon 45, The Plicae
The Sheldon-45 (#35600) is a rare 1794 Cent variety with a distinctive reverse. It was actually the reverse, rather than the obverse, that led Dr. Edward Maris to coin the nickname "The Plicae." This moniker references the way Liberty's hair appears.
Features of the S-45
The Obverse (Obverse 20)
- The Hair: Liberty’s hair is characterized by thick, heavy braids. A notable diagnostic is the conspicuous gap located between the bottom curl and the one immediately above it.
- The Date: The 7 is elongated and sits slightly lower than the other digits. The tip of the 1 touches the hair, while the top of the 4 touches the truncation of the bust.
The Reverse (Reverse T - "The Plicae")
As noted by Bill Noyes, the plicae marks covers the area stretching from the "TA" in STATES down to the lower right branch is covered in fine, tiny linear marks (the "folds").
- Die Cracks: Most specimens show a characteristic die crack running through the "IC" in AMERICA.
- The Wreath & Bow: The wreath contains seven berries on the left branch and six berries on the right. A distinct lump is visible inside the left loop of the bow.
- Fraction Bar: The fraction bar is notably short and has a distinct upward tilt toward the right.
Collecting the Sheldon 45
Jon Alan Boka and the Early American Coppers society have traced approximately 50 extant examples of the S-45, with the majority residing in lower grade ranges. Only two Mint State specimens are known to exist. The PCGS-certified Lord St. Oswald coin is the undisputed finest known and remarkably retains traces of original mint-red color. The Bushnell specimen stands as the second of these two uncirculated survivors.
* * *
Regency XIX Preview | Legend Rare Coin Auctions | December 15, 2016
(Starts at 1:29)