1796 Draped Bust Cent. S-93. Rarity-3-. Reverse of 1795. MS-64 BN (PCGS). CAC. Rich caramel tones surround the design elements of this historic S-93 Draped Bust cent. The patina is otherwise deep cocoa-brown with hints of pinkish color visible on the reverse under certain lighting. The pleasing glossy texture that dominates the complexion complements the satiny luster in the fields. A dramatic display of clashmarks and die breaks surround the devices but the surfaces are largely free from post-mint blemishes. A minor mint-made planchet flaw near Libertys lower curls serves as the most convenient pedigree marker. This is a readily identifiable obverse die for the 1796 Draped Bust cent due to the presence of a hyphen-like break between the digits 7 and 9 in the date and an area of roughness in the die in the field below the ribbon ends. A workhorse die, this obverse was also used to strike examples of the Sheldon-94, S-95, S-96, NC.2 and NC.3 varieties. In the S-93 marriage, this obverse is paired with a reverse the wreath on which terminates in single leaves that appear to form a closed circle.In this die state, called D/D by Noyes, the obverse exhibits a faint crack from the digit 7 in the date, through the digit 1, and to the right edge of the lowermost curl. Clash marks in the field areas below the ribbon ends, before Libertys mouth and below the chin from an earlier die state are still present and are accompanied by additional clashing at ER of LIBERTYThe reverse is far more dramatic regarding the advanced die state with the lower right peripheral area extensively cracked from the letter E in AMERICA to the left ribbon end. The most prominent crack joins the tops of the letters RICA, and there is a retained cud at the border outside the letters ER. Although partially obscured by the cracks, clash marks from the letters RT in LIBERTY on the obverse are discernible between the letter A in AMERICA and the right ribbon end. The significant break up of this reverse die almost certainly explains why it is was not used to strike any other variety of 1796 Liberty Cap cent.While the Sheldon-93 marriage is not particularly rare overall, it becomes a considerable challenge to locate in true Mint State condition. In fact, it has been over seven years since our January 2013 sale of the CC#1 MS-65 RB (PCGS) Cardinal specimen for $152,750 that we last handed an Uncirculated survivor from these dies. The present example is ranked as fourth finest on the Noyes census (2007) and was tied for third place in the Bland/Breen roster (2000). It is currently tied at the top of the PCGS Population Report in this category with the Mills-Earle-Bird specimen, but it is the only one of the two to feature approval by CAC. It also offers a provenance that is just as impressive as the surface preservation and can be traced back to the collection of New Jersey copper pioneer Dr. Edward Maris before 1886. It has long been recognized by the Early American Copper community as an outstanding example of both the S-93 dies and the 1796 Draped Bust type, assuring strong demand from both specialists and type collectors. Ex Dr. Edward Maris; Harlan P. Smiths sale of June 1886, lot 274; Benjamin H. Collins; General Walter D. McCaw; Thomas L. Elders sale of November 1930, lot 1899; James G. Macallister; Henry A. Sternberg: J. C. Morgenthau & Cos sale of April 1933, lot 15; Henry A. Sternberg; J. C. Morgenthau & Co, privately on February 4, 1939; Judge Thomas L. Gaskill; New Netherlands Coin Co., privately in November 1956; Dorothy Paschal, July 1975; Ellen Enzler; Numismatic & Antiquarian Service Corporation of Americas sale of December 1978, lot 2605; Ellen Enzler; Del Bland; Dr. Philip W. Ralls; the Goldbergs sale of January 2014, lot 410.
