1814 1C Crosslet 4, BN AU53BN Certification #51823007, PCGS #1573

CoinFacts Details

Expert Comments

Charles Morgan

The 1814 Classic Head Cent

Despite the turmoil of the War of 1812 and the British sacking of Washington, D.C., the Philadelphia Mint managed to strike 357,830 Classic Head cents in 1814. Severe wartime shortages of imported English copper forced the Mint to produce the entire year's copper output in a single batch. Two distinct date styles exist for this issue: the Crosslet 4 (S-294, BN #36520) and the Plain 4 (S-295, BN #36517). These are easily distinguished by the presence or absence of a small crossbar at the terminus of the 4's arm. The Crosslet 4 is slightly scarcer.

Production & Distribution Timeline

Possibly September: 1814 cent production begins.
October 27, 1814: Chief Coiner Adam Eckfeldt delivers all 357,830 cents, completing the year's copper mintage. The Mint's supply of copper blanks is exhausted.
November 13, 1814: U.S. Treasurer Thomas T. Tucker orders the Mint to suspend copper distribution amid widespread specie payment halts.
December 26, 1814: The Bank of Pennsylvania receives the full shipment as the sole distributor, releasing most of the coins into circulation in early 1815.

Collecting the 1814 Classic Head Cent

The vast majority of surviving 1814 cents will grade PCGS XF40 or lower. Mint State specimens are scarce, and examples retaining original Mint Red are exceptionally rare, with only two known to date.

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PCGS #

1573

Designer

John Reich

Edge

Plain

Diameter

28.00 millimeters

Weight

10.89 grams

Mintage

357830

Metal

Copper

Pop Higher

Pop Lower

428

Region

The United States of America

Price Guide

PCGS Population

Auctions - PCGS Graded

Auctions - NGC Graded

Rarity and Survival Estimates Learn More

Grades	Survival Estimate The Survival Estimate represents an average of one or more experts opinions as to how many examples survive of a particular coin in three categories: 1) all grades, 2) 60 or better, and 3) 65 or better. These estimates are based on a variety of sources, including population reports, auction appearances, and personal knowledge. Survival estimates include coins that are raw, certified by PCGS, and certified by other grading services.	Numismatic Rarity Numismatic Rarity converts the Survival Estimate for a particular coin into a number from 1 to 10 (with decimal increments) based on the PCGS Rarity Scale. The higher the number, the more rare the coin.	Relative Rarity by Type Relative Rarity By Type ranks the rarity of this coin with all other coins of this Type. Lower numbers indicate rarer coins.	Relative Rarity by Series Relative Rarity By Series ranks the rarity of this coin with all other coins of this Series. Lower numbers indicate rarer coins.
65 or Better	3000	R-4.4	7 / 11 TIE	7 / 11 TIE
All Grades	50	R-8.5	10 / 11	10 / 11
60 or Better	4	R-9.8	6 / 11 TIE	6 / 11 TIE

Survival Estimate The Survival Estimate represents an average of one or more experts opinions as to how many examples survive of a particular coin in three categories: 1) all grades, 2) 60 or better, and 3) 65 or better. These estimates are based on a variety of sources, including population reports, auction appearances, and personal knowledge. Survival estimates include coins that are raw, certified by PCGS, and certified by other grading services.
65 or Better	3000
All Grades	50
60 or Better	4

Numismatic Rarity Numismatic Rarity converts the Survival Estimate for a particular coin into a number from 1 to 10 (with decimal increments) based on the PCGS Rarity Scale. The higher the number, the more rare the coin.
65 or Better	R-4.4
All Grades	R-8.5
60 or Better	R-9.8

Relative Rarity by Type Relative Rarity By Type ranks the rarity of this coin with all other coins of this Type. Lower numbers indicate rarer coins.
65 or Better	7 / 11 TIE
All Grades	10 / 11
60 or Better	6 / 11 TIE

Relative Rarity by Series Relative Rarity By Series ranks the rarity of this coin with all other coins of this Series. Lower numbers indicate rarer coins.
65 or Better	7 / 11 TIE
All Grades	10 / 11
60 or Better	6 / 11 TIE

Condition Census Learn More

Pos	Grade	Pedigree and History
1	PCGS MS66BN	As PCGS MS65BN #05754407. “The Douglas C. Kaselitz Collection,” Stack’s Bowers, July 2015, Lot 5021 – $55,812.50. As PCGS MS66BN #35585552. Legend Rare Coin Auctions, November 15, 2018, Lot 11 - $88,125. S-294.
2	PCGS MS65+BN	Doug Bird. S-294.
3	PCGS MS65BN	Superior Galleries, January 2004, Lot 1289; “The ESM Collection,” Stack’s Bowers, August 6, 2020, Lot 1066 – $40,800; Heritage Auctions, August 24, 2022, Lot 3874 – $33.600; "The Rusty Thompson Uncommon Cents Collection," Heritage Auctions, January 19, 2025, Lot 4400 - $38,400. S-294.
3	PCGS MS65BN
5	PCGS MS64+BN	“The Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection,” Bowers and Merena, May 1996, Lot 540 – $9,350. As PCGS MS64BN. Heritage Auctions, January 4, 2001, Lot 6120 – $8,625. As PCGS MS64+BN #26598135. S-294.

#1 PCGS MS66BN

As PCGS MS65BN #05754407. “The Douglas C. Kaselitz Collection,” Stack’s Bowers, July 2015, Lot 5021 – $55,812.50. As PCGS MS66BN #35585552. Legend Rare Coin Auctions, November 15, 2018, Lot 11 - $88,125. S-294.

#2 PCGS MS65+BN

Doug Bird. S-294.

#3 PCGS MS65BN

Superior Galleries, January 2004, Lot 1289; “The ESM Collection,” Stack’s Bowers, August 6, 2020, Lot 1066 – $40,800; Heritage Auctions, August 24, 2022, Lot 3874 – $33.600; "The Rusty Thompson Uncommon Cents Collection," Heritage Auctions, January 19, 2025, Lot 4400 - $38,400. S-294.

#3 PCGS MS65BN

#5 PCGS MS64+BN

“The Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection,” Bowers and Merena, May 1996, Lot 540 – $9,350. As PCGS MS64BN. Heritage Auctions, January 4, 2001, Lot 6120 – $8,625. As PCGS MS64+BN #26598135. S-294.