1793 Flowing Hair Cent. Wreath Reverse. S-8. Rarity-3. Vine and Bars Edge. VF-35 (PCGS).A lovely Choice VF example of this historic and eagerly sought one year design type in the U.S. Mints large cent series. Blended medium golden-brown and antique copper patina blankets both sides, the reverse a bit more boldly toned than the obverse. The former side also exhibits a trace of microgranularity when observed with the aid of a loupe, although both sides are overall smooth in hand with few blemishes of note. In fact, the only mark worthy of individual attention is a small nick just inside the lower right obverse border. Well centered in strike with plenty of bold detail remaining, there is much to recommend this coin to advanced type collectors as well as early copper specialists. Noyes Die State C/B.<p>Historically 1793 large cents have been one of the most coveted of collector coins. These impressive copper pieces were the first coins the new Philadelphia Mint issued in quantity as coinage first began in the United States. The first cents display the Flowing Hair, Chain Reverse motif launched on March 1, 1793 with 36,101 coins struck of that type before public outcry over the design forced a change in mid 1793 to an entirely new design. This is when the 1793 Wreath cents were launched, with the output reaching 63,353 pieces before the public cried out once again and a third revision to the large cent design was undertaken late that year. The resulting Liberty Cap design proved more agreeable to contemporary Americans than its Chain Reverse and Wreath Reverse predecessors with coinage of that design type lasting into 1796.<p>Sheldon-8 is one of the more frequently encountered die marriages of the 1793 Wreath cent, Walter Breen (<em>Encyclopedia of United States Large Cents: 1793-1814</em>, 2000) asserting that production of this variety was included among the 6,112 cents that the Mint delivered on April 13, 1793. This variety is most readily identifiable by the curved stem in the sprig that parallels the date on the obverse and the heavy, triangular bow at the base of the wreath on the reverse. As a one year design type from the first year of U.S. large cent production, of course, all 1793 Wreath cents are scarce to rare from a market availability standpoint. As an especially attractive mid grade survivor the present example is destined to perform well at auction.
