1793 Flowing Hair Cent. Wreath Reverse. S-11C. Rarity-3-. Lettered Edge. Single Leaf. MS-62 BN (PCGS). A truly stunning execution of the Flowing Hair, Wreath Reverse type with satiny luster blanketing the fields on each side. Distinctly and attractively toned in milk-chocolate hues with deeper swaths of chestnut and mahogany. The strike is faintly drawn towards 6 oclock on the obverse and the upper reverse beads are replaced by an arcing crease from the planchet cutter. A natural flaw in the right obverse field offers a convenient pedigree marker for tracing this through future cabinets. This is a magnificent and historic survivor of the Sheldon-11C dies, ranking as the fourth finest example known. The reverse was featured in the seminal 1949 reference <em>Early American Cents</em> by William H. Sheldon and it was more recently used to illustrate the die marriage in Walter Breens large cent <em>Encyclopedia </em>(2000). This appearance marks the fifth time we have handled this piece over the past four decades, beginning with our Auction 81 sale in July 1981. Most significantly, we featured it in our March 1988 sale of the Magnificent Herman Halpern Collection where it was catalogued as "probably second finest" known. It was last offered publicly in our sale of January 1989 and has been held privately since, making the present offering a significant opportunity for advanced Early American Copper specialists. An ideal coin for both variety and type set purposes, with just 3 certified finer by PCGS in the Lettered Edge category. From the Macon Collection. Earlier ex Howard R. Newcomb; J.C. Morgenthau & Co.s Sale of the Newcomb Collection, February 1945, lot 12; Abe Kosoff; Dr. William H. Sheldon Collection, privately in April 1972; R.E. Naftzger, Jr., our (Stacks) Auction 81 sale, July 1981, lot 1507; Stanley Kesselman; R.E. Naftzger, Jr., December 1986; Herman Halpern, our (Stacks) sale of the Herman Halpern Collection; March 1988, lot 12; Anthony Terranova; our (Bowers and Merenas) Fixed Price List #70, Autumn 1988; our (Bowers and Merenas) sale of January 1989, lot 86. The reverse is illustrated in Sheldons <em>Early American Cents</em> (1949) and it serves as the plate coin for the variety in Breens <em>Encyclopedia (2000)</em>. Earlier auction listings have included a provenance of Crosby-Brand-Sheraton-Paschal but this has not been confirmed.
