1794 1C S-67, Roman Plicae, BN (Regular Strike)
Series: Liberty Cap Cents 1793-1796
PCGS MS64+BN
PCGS MS64BN
PCGS AU58+BN
- PCGS #:
- 35684
- 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:
- $31,200 • MS64+BN • 01-16-2022 • Heritage Auctions
Die Varieties
Condition Census What Is This?
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#1 PCGS MS64+BN
Stack’s, 1959; “The Frank H. Masters, Jr. Collection," RARCOA, May 1971, Lot 79 - $875; Dean Oakes; As PCGS MS62BN #28173065. "The Dean Oakes Collection of Large Cents," Heritage Auctions, January 2014, Lot 5120 - $25,850; unknown intermediary. As PCGS MS-64+BN #25600869. Heritage Auctions, April 2014, Lot 5510 – $38,187.50; unknown intermediary; Stack’s Bowers, August 2014, Lot 13028 – $35,250. unknown intermediary; Heritage Auctions, February 4, 2016, Lot 3015 – $28,200; As PCGS MS-64+BN #81610289. Heritage Auctions, October 3, 2016, Lot 3013 – $24,675; Michael Gasvoda. As PCGS MS-64+BN #82418260. Heritage Auctions, February 2017, Lot 21338 – $25,850; "The Arizona Collection," Heritage Auctions, January 12, 2022, Lot 3011 – $31,200. S-67. Die State III. |
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#2 PCGS MS64BN
Peter Mougey; William H. Woodin. As "Strong impression, uncirculated." Thomas L. Elder, September 1910, Lot 11 - $32; Dr. George P. French; Henry C. Miller. As "Uncirculated, handsome, sharp impression." The United States Coin Co., December 5, 1917, L ot 418 - $77.50; Dr. George P. French, March 21, 1929; B. Max Mehl Fixed Price List, 1929, Lot 81 - $125; T. James Clarke, 1944; B. Max Mehl; B. Max Mehl #106, June 1945, Lot 1651 - $120; B. Max Mehl, April 24, 1947; "The R.E. "Ted" Naftzger, Jr. Collection," New Netherlands Coin Co., November 14, 1973, Lot 388 - $2,600; Del Bland, May 9, 1986 • Dr. Allen Bennett, January 20, 1998; Walter J. Husak, April 6, 2001; Larry A. Bland. As PCGS MS62BN. "The Del & Larry Bland Collection," Early Cents Auctions, September 3, 2022, Lot 525 - $30,000; Allen G. Ross. S-67. Die State III. |
#3 PCGS UNC Details
William Strickland, taken to England from the United States Mint in 1794; 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 157 – $392; A.H. Baldwin & Sons, Ltd.; Lester Merkin; Emery May Norweb. As "Net grade AU55/MS63." "The Norweb Collection, Part III," Bowers & Merena, November 15, 1988, Lot 2726 - $3,190; "The John R. Frankenfield Collection," Superior Galleries, February 17, 2001, Lot 269 - $4,600; Thomas D. Reynolds, June 2010; "The Paul Gerrie Collection," Goldberg Auctioneers, February 3, 2013, Lot 40 - $16,675. As PCGS UNC Details #26772784. "The Daniel W. Trollan Collection," Goldberg Auctioneers, January 27, 2019, Lot 198 - $18,000; Larry Schafer. S-67. Die State III. |
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#4 PCGS AU58+BN
Charles I. Bushnell; "The Lorin G. Parmelee," Samuel Hudson & Henry Chapman, June 1882, Lot 2623 - $17; Lorin G. Parmelee; M.A. Brown, Samuel Hudson & Henry Chapman, April 1897, Lot 759 - $12; "The George H. Earle, Jr. Collection," Henry Chapman, June 1912, Lot 3388 - $27; Samuel Hudson Chapman, June 1913, Lot 462 - $37; Thomas L. Elder, sold privately; Ebenezer Gilbert; Colonel James W. Ellsworth, March 1923; Wayte Raymond; "The Howard R. Newcomb Collection," J. C. Morgenthau & Co., February 7, 1945, Lot 69 - $42.50; Dr. William H. Sheldon; Dorothy I. Paschal; "The John W. Adams Collection," Bowers & Ruddy Fixed Price List 1982, Lot 68 - Listed at $7,500; Bowers & Ruddy Galleries Rare Coin Review #46, December 1982, Listed at $7,500; Bowers & Merena Galleries Rare Coin Review #48, June 1983, Listed at $7,500; John W. Adams, July 1984; Denis W. Loring, March 1985; "The Herman Halpern Collection," Stack's, May 16, 1988, Lot 95 - $7,150; R.E. "Ted: Naftzger, Jr., Eric Streiner, April 1992; John B. MacDonald, February 1997; Walter J. Husak; "The Thomas D. Reynolds Collection," Goldberg Auctioneers, February 1, 2016, Lot 44 - $18,800.; Greg Hannigan, November 2019; Robert A. Klosterboer. S-67. Die State VI. Early American Cents and Penny Whimsy plate coin. |
#5 PCGS AU50BN
"The JJM Large Cents Major Varieties Collection" (PCGS Set Registry). S-67. |
#5 PCGS AU50BN
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The 1794 Liberty Cap Cent, Sheldon 67, Roman Plicae
Named the "Roman Plicae" by Dr. Edward Maris, the Sheldon-67 (#35684) variety pairs Obverse 34 (credited to John Smith Gardner) with Reverse II. It represents the second of four varieties to utilize this specific reverse die. Notably, it is the first 1794 cent variety to fall into the "Head of 1795" category. This classification, however, is a bit of a misnomer; while these later 1794 heads anticipate the 1795 design, they are not an exact match. Instead, this period represents a distinct transitional phase leading toward the true Head of 1795, which is introduced in 1795 with the Sheldon-72 (#35699).
The Influence of John Smith Gardner
John Smith Gardner was hired by the Mint in November 1794. A skilled engraver and technician, Gardner was brought in to assist Robert Scot and address inefficiencies in the die-making process. Starting with the Sheldon-67, Gardner worked to improve the quality of Liberty’s portrait, specifically refining the facial features and hair detail.
In 1795, he oversaw the transition of the Large Cent from thick, lettered-edge planchets to thin, plain-edged ones. Despite his significant contributions, Gardner was paid on a daily basis (earning between $2.25 and $3.00) and was never granted a commission as an officer of the Mint. He eventually left the institution around August 1796.
Obverse Characteristics
On the obverse, Liberty is depicted with a large, circular curl at the base of her hair, while the locks at the top terminate directly beneath the upright bar of the "T" in LIBERTY. Collectors will frequently find this variety displaying heavy clash marks, most notably a leaf impression where Liberty’s forehead meets her hair. Characteristic die cracks are also common, typically running through her cheek, upper lip, and face.
Reverse Diagnostics
The reverse is easily distinguished by a double leaf positioned under the "O" in OF, a departure from the more common triple-leaf arrangement. Other notable features include:
- Oversized Lettering: The "A" and "M" in AMERICA are notably large, with the "A" often showing a repunched appearance.
- Fraction Bar: A short fraction bar that stops shy of the denominator’s right tip.
- Berry Count: A "6x7" arrangement (six berries on the left branch, seven on the right).
- Die Damage: Characteristic damage is often visible above the wreath and below the ribbon knot.
Provenance and Quality
This variety was among the coins acquired directly from the Mint by William Strickland and taken to England in 1795. These coins famously became part of the Lord St. Oswald Collection, representing some of the finest surviving specimens of the era. One of the three Lord St. Oswald examples has been graded PCGS UNC Details due to an attempt to repair a planchet lamination. Laminated planchets appear with some frequency for this variety—a testament to the inconsistent quality of the copper flans used during the Mint's infancy.
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