1796 Liberty Cap Cent. Liberty Cap. S-91. Rarity-3. EF-45 (PCGS).A lovely mottling of chocolate and mahogany tones adorns the glossy surfaces of this impressive Sheldon-91 cent. The devices are boldly impressed on both sides, there being no significant weakness. Libertys hair and profile details are intricately rendered on the obverse, while the veining and textures in the reverse wreath are remarkably sharp for the assigned grade. Scrutiny reveals evidence of die wear and clashing, both as struck, while accuracy compels us to mention a few tiny edge bruises, the most notable of which are on the obverse outside the letter B in LIBERTY and on the reverse under the fraction. Tiny planchet chips left of the date and at the letters ST in STATES are noted, but the surfaces are otherwise quite smooth with strong eye appeal. Truly choice and absolutely splendid. This piece is tied for Condition Census #11 for the S-91 dies in the Noyes census, where it is graded EF-40 net VF-30. Breen Die State III, late.Ex W.W.C. Wilson; Wayte Raymond; Anderson Galleries sale of November 1925, lot 206; Carl Wurtzbach; L&B Coins, April 1977; Tom Reynolds, May 7, 1992; Superiors sale of the Robinson S. Brown, Jr. Collection, January 1996, lot 126; David Henderson; Ira & Larry Goldbergs Benson Collection sale, Part I, February 2001, lot 286; Heritages sale of the March Wells Collection, February 2009, lot 576; Steve Chappen; our Baltimore Auction of March 2014, lot 5034. Collector envelope and tags with provenance notes included.
