1793 Flowing Hair Cent. Wreath Reverse. S-9, B-12. Rarity-2. Vine and Bars Edge. AU-50 BN (NGC).Offered is an uncommonly well produced and preserved survivor of this historic one-year design type from the commencement of the United States Mints large cent series. The impression is expertly centered on both sides and firmly rendered with universally sharp detail in the presence of light high point wear. Generally deep olive-brown in color, hints of warmer tannish-rose and, at the lower reverse, deeper steely-charcoal are discernible as the coin rotates under a light. A touch of glossiness to the texture betrays an old, light cleaning, but the toning is pleasing, and there are none but trivial marks and a few minor pits that do not distract. At the NGC AU-50 grade level, this is a visually pleasing and numismatically desirable example of both the type and die pairing. Breen Die State II.<p>While Chain cents often attract the most interest for their position as the first made, there is not a collector alive who would assert that Chain cents are more beautiful than their Wreath reverse counterparts. Breen boldly suggested that the elegance of the Wreath cents "was Director David Rittenhouses answer to the newspaper criticisms" lodged against the Chain cent. Though no evidence exists to support this, the fact remains that the Wreaths represented a substantial step up in both design artistry and engraving execution. The details of this fine style design are lost with even light wear, making high grade Wreath cents such as this the crown princes of the early copper world.<p>In any numismatic season a 1793 Wreath cent is an object of desire, and even coins that are worn nearly smooth command interest and attention. The 2000 reference <em>Walter Breens Encyclopedia of Early United States Cents: 1793-1814</em> states that approximately 4% of the mintage of 63,353 coins for the 1793 Wreath cent is extant, or 2,400 to 2,800 in all grades. About Uncirculated and Mint State survivors exist in a slightly greater percentage of the mintage than for later years, perhaps due to interest shown in these early U.S. Mint products by contemporary collectors in England, where numismatics was firmly established by the 1790s. Advanced numismatists will be sure to take note of this highlight among the early coppers in this sale.PCGS# 1347. NGC ID: 223H.
