1793 Flowing Hair Cent. Chain Reverse. S-4. Rarity-3. AMERICA, With Periods. AU-55 (PCGS).<strong>Type:</strong> Flowing Hair, Chain Reverse.<p><strong>Design:</strong> Obv: A head of Liberty with flowing hair faces right, the word LIBERTY inscribed along the upper border and the date 1793 at the lower border. Rev: A chain of 15 links encircles two expressions of the denomination, ONE CENT and 1/100. The legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA is around the border.<p><strong>Weight Standard:</strong> 13.48 grams.<p><strong>Diameter:</strong> Approximately 26 to 27 mm.<p><strong>Die Variety:</strong> Sheldon-4, Breen-5. Obv: The periods after the word LIBERTY and the date readily identify this obverse die, which appears only in the Sheldon-4 pairing. Rev: The word AMERICA in the legend is spelled out in full, as opposed to abbreviated as AMERI. as on the reverse of the Sheldon-1 variety. The fraction bar in the denomination 1/100 is high and touching the base of the numerator 1, the digits in the denomination are evenly spaced, but both 0s are low. The letters MER in AMERICA are high. This is the workhorse reverse of the 1793 Chain cent issue, and it was also used in the S-2, S-3 and NC-1 pairings.<p>Sheldon-4 is the only die marriage that corresponds to the AMERICA, With Periods <em>Guide Book</em> variety of the 1793 Chain cent.<p><strong>Die State:</strong> Noyes B/B, Breen II. Obv: A faint crack from the border at 8 oclock to Libertys hair is hidden by an area of light die swell. Faint, spindly crack through the base of the letters RTY to the following period. Rev: Die lightly flowlined outside the word AMERICA, light roughness in the field immediately below the chain links under the denomination 1/100.<p><strong>Edge:</strong> Ornamented with bars and a slender vine with leaves.<p><strong>Mintage:</strong> The accepted mintage for the 1793 Chain cent as an issue is 36,103 coins. Mintage for the Sheldon-4 variety is estimated at more than 8,800 coins, which was achieved as part of three deliveries:<p>-March 8: 7,000 (includes S-4)<p>-March 9: 1,000 coins<p>-March 12: 5,578 coins<p><strong>Estimated Surviving Population for the Die Variety:</strong> Rarity-3: 301 to 400 coins in all grades.<p><strong>Strike:</strong> This is an very well defined Chain cent irrespective of die pairing, with the central obverse detail bold and only minor softness to Libertys ear and the surrounding hair strands. The impression is well centered on both sides with all other features more or less full.<p><strong>Surfaces: </strong>Handsome autumn-brown patina is seen on both sides with blushes of olive-gray intermingled throughout. The surfaces are hard and tight with only wispy handling marks, none of which are worthy of individual attention. A short, thin planchet void slanting down to the right in the field before Libertys chin is as made, as are a few light adjustment marks on the reverse at the letters ES in STATES. Overall smooth with strong visual appeal.<p><strong>Commentary:</strong> Exactly who discovered this die pairing is unknown, with credit perhaps due to Joseph Mickley, Edward Cogan or Dr. Montroville W. Dickeson. Regardless, this variety was known by the late 1850s, when numismatics as a hobby in the United States experienced its first big surge in popularity. Survivors remain popular for both type and variety purposes, although with most grading no finer than VF this overall sharp and aesthetically pleasing coin represent an important bidding opportunity for the advanced collector.PCGS# 91341.PCGS Population: 5; 3 finer, two of which are Mint State (MS-66 BN finest).From the ESM Collection.
