1794 1C Apple Cheek, S-24, BN AU50BN Certification #36135529, PCGS #35537

CoinFacts Details

Owner's Comments

S-24 R-1. Very attractive glossy medium brown and light chocolate. The surfaces are choice and the eye appeal of this cent is outstanding. The only notable marks are a small stain of darker toning with tiny verdigris specks above IB in LIBERTY, a tick on the truncation over the 1 and a small rim nick over the T in UNITED. MDS, Breen state IV, with a fine die crack through the L to the back of the head and a faint die crack from the rim up to the truncation just right of the date. A beautiful cent that comes with a nice provenance. Ex. Lawrence O Ross, Stack's 10/1953:446 (as UNC), Herman Halpern, Stack's 3/16/1988:31 (as EF-45), J.R. Frankenfield, McCawley & Grellman Auctions/Superior 2/17/2001/:217, Dan Trollan Collection

Expert Comments

Charles Morgan

The 1794 Liberty Cap Cent, Sheldon 24, Apple Cheek

This variety represents the only appearance of Obverse 7. It is easily identified by Liberty's full, rounded cheeks, earning it the "Apple Cheek" nickname. This obverse die was short-lived; it quickly developed a dramatic die crack that bisects the coin, extending from the L in LIBERTY down to the rim near the 4 in the date. As noted in the Sheldon-23 (#35534) description, this variety also utilizes Reverse D, featuring the characteristic six berries on the left and seven on the right.

Apple Cheek 1794 cents survive in Choice to Gem Mint State, and in a rare occurrence for 18th-century copper, one example is graded PCGS MS67RB. While the red coloration on this coin is limited to protected areas along the lettering and the folds of the design, the fact that such an important specimen survives is miraculous. This example sold for $446,500 in the fifth session of the landmark Pogue Collection sale. The Eliasberg PCGS MS66+BN is also noteworthy.

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PCGS #

35537

Designer

Attributed to Robert Scot

Edge

Lettered: ONE HUNDRED FOR A DOLLAR

Diameter

28.00 millimeters

Weight

13.48 grams

Mintage

918521

Metal

Copper

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Region

The United States of America

Price Guide

PCGS Population

Auctions - PCGS Graded

Auctions - NGC Graded

Condition Census Learn More

Pos	Grade	Pedigree and History
1	PCGS MS66+BN	"The Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection," Bowers & Merena, May 1996, Lot 491 - $27,500. S-24.
2	PCGS MS65BN	Édouard Frossard, acquired from an old American cabinet for $22.50; Édouard Frossard, October 1884, Lot 865 - $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; “The Garrett Collection, Part I,” Bowers and Ruddy, November 1979, Lot 59 – $17,000; Stanley J. Richmid; Leon Hendrickson; Fred Sweeney Rare Coins; Robert Rhue and Michael Storeim; Kagin’s; Michael Storeim; Silvano DiGenova; Bowers and Merena, September 1988, Lot 3209 – $14,300; Silvano DiGenova; Superior Galleries, January 1989, Lot 3092 – $9,350; Paul Burke III; Anthony J. Terranova, April 1995; Walter J. Husak; Stuart A. Levine; D. Brent Pogue; private collector; Heritage Auctions, August 2014, Lot 5523 – Passed; Stack’s Bowers, March 22, 2018, Lot 2176 – $102,000. S-24.
3	PCGS MS63BN	S-24.
3	Est. MS63BN	Discovered in Europe in the late 2010s. As NGC MS-64+BN #4489301-001.As NGC MS-64+BN #4489301-001. Heritage Auctions, January 4, 2018, Lot 4740 – $45,600; Stack’s Bowers, March 26, 2024, Lot 4009 – $45,600. S-24.
5	PCGS MS61BN	Heritage Auctions, June 2002, Lot 5027; “The Adam Mervis Collection,” Heritage Auctions, January 8, 2014, Lot 3324 – $16,450. S-24.

#1 PCGS MS66+BN

"The Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection," Bowers & Merena, May 1996, Lot 491 - $27,500. S-24.

#2 PCGS MS65BN

Édouard Frossard, acquired from an old American cabinet for $22.50; Édouard Frossard, October 1884, Lot 865 - $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; “The Garrett Collection, Part I,” Bowers and Ruddy, November 1979, Lot 59 – $17,000; Stanley J. Richmid; Leon Hendrickson; Fred Sweeney Rare Coins; Robert Rhue and Michael Storeim; Kagin’s; Michael Storeim; Silvano DiGenova; Bowers and Merena, September 1988, Lot 3209 – $14,300; Silvano DiGenova; Superior Galleries, January 1989, Lot 3092 – $9,350; Paul Burke III; Anthony J. Terranova, April 1995; Walter J. Husak; Stuart A. Levine; D. Brent Pogue; private collector; Heritage Auctions, August 2014, Lot 5523 – Passed; Stack’s Bowers, March 22, 2018, Lot 2176 – $102,000. S-24.

#3 PCGS MS63BN

S-24.

#3 Est. MS63BN

Discovered in Europe in the late 2010s. As NGC MS-64+BN #4489301-001.As NGC MS-64+BN #4489301-001. Heritage Auctions, January 4, 2018, Lot 4740 – $45,600; Stack’s Bowers, March 26, 2024, Lot 4009 – $45,600. S-24.

#5 PCGS MS61BN

Heritage Auctions, June 2002, Lot 5027; “The Adam Mervis Collection,” Heritage Auctions, January 8, 2014, Lot 3324 – $16,450. S-24.