1793 Flowing Hair Cent. Chain Reverse. S-1. Rarity-4. AMERI. VF Details--Altered Surfaces (PCGS).More affordable mid grade quality for this classic and eagerly sought die pairing of the 1793 Chain cent. Both sides retain bold outline detail to all design elements, those on the reverse sharp and the date and word LIBERTY on the obverse fully legible. Ruddy copper-gray and pale rose surfaces are lightly pitted with a curious matte-like texture, the latter feature explaining the PCGS qualifier. The first coins of the U.S. Mint at Philadelphia were the large cents and half cents of 1793, with the March 1 coinage of cents preceding the production of half cents by several months. In the first year there were three distinct styles of large cents struck -- Chain, Flowing Hair, and Liberty Cap -- with numerous varieties within each type. Sheldon-1, as here, is the only variety of the issue with the AMERI. abbreviation in the reverse legend, its mintage believed to comprise approximately 7,000 of the 11,178 coins delivered between February 27 and March 1. A scarce die marriage with only 200 or so examples believed extant in all grades, the 1793 S-1 cent enjoys strong collector demand at all levels of preservation. The present example is sure to catch the eye of many bidders.
