This coin provided a standard for describing a 70-coin in EAC ... Now generally considered the most perfect 1796 cent known. - Dr. William H. Sheldon, on his envelope for this coinA landmark among 1796 Draped Bust cents, the Pogue S-110 is considered by all authorities to be one of the finest examples of this date extant. With luxurious cartwheel luster serving to highlight the underlying color on both sides, the mostly medium brown surfaces are rich with faded mint red, present everywhere but strongest around the devices. Both sides show significant gloss as well as undiminished original mint frost. Though firm strikes are far from the exception on this variety or 1796 Draped Bust cents in general, the devices here are exceptionally well detailed, showing definitive hair strands and the delicate lapping lines half-hidden within them at the central obverse and fine elements within the reverse wreath. Libertys profile is slightly doubled, best seen on her nose, lips, and chin. The reverse, as usual, is framed with a broad circle of bold triangular denticles, reminiscent of the style seen on 1794 cents. The obverse denticles are incomplete near 10:00 but show fairly good definition and centering elsewhere. The smooth, lustrous surface is precariously close to flawless, with only a short hairline near the rim in the lower left obverse and a batch of hairlines above M of AMERICA noted. Affirming this coins spectacular visual appeal is perhaps unnecessary, but neither careful scrutiny nor unreasonable expectations will diminish the exceptional aesthetic presentation of this gem cent.The die state is advanced, equivalent to Breens Die State VII. A delicate crack joins the tops of the letters in LIBERTY, and another similar crack runs from the rim to Libertys hair bow. A jogging but mostly horizontal crack joins Libertys lowest hair curl to the lower left side of 1 in the date, then continues to the right, connecting each date digit, 79 at their bases, and 6 near its midpoint. A short crack from the truncation of Libertys bust continues to the rim. The dies have clashed, and vestiges of the impressions remain at Libertys forehead and sharply throughout the wreath, with the impression of Libertys bust seen at OF. Both obverse and reverse suffer from extensive spalling, with chips missing from the die face along the front of Libertys throat, across the side of her neck, and around the date numerals. On the reverse, the largest chip has fallen from the die face below E of UNITED, another substantial one is seen right of E in ONE, and other smaller ones are noted in other areas. Lapping has left an eroded texture in some parts of the wreath and weakened the internal detail of some leaves, including those right of the bow.An exciting and exceptional 18th century cent, this coin was deemed to be the literal definition of perfection among early cents by Dr. William Sheldon, the man who conceived the 70-point grading system used throughout modern numismatics today. In Penny Whimsy, 1958, Sheldon wrote that Sheldon-110 was "the only variety other than No. 119 which offers a 70-coin," referencing this piece. He listed it at the first position of a Condition Census of 70-55-50-40-35-35. According to Ted Naftzgers envelope, Dr. Sheldon termed this coin "The most perfect 1796 cent." It is the single finest 1796 Draped Bust cent PCGS has ever certified.
