1794 1/2C, BN MS (PCGS#1003)
August 2019 ANA U.S. Coins Auction Rosemont, IL
- 拍卖行
- Stack's Bowers
- 批号
- 542
- 等级
- AU55BN
- 价格
- 110,113
- 详细说明
- 1794 Liberty Cap Half Cent. C-9. Rarity-2. AU-55 BN (NGC).
Glossy antique copper surfaces are smooth in hand apart from a few light toning spots that are largely out of the way around the peripheries. There are no marks of note, and the eye appeal further benefits from a well centered strike that has imparted bold to sharp detail throughout the design. Manley Die State 2.0.
The 1794 is properly considered a distinct type within the half cent series, as even a casual comparison with the Small Head style of 1795 to 1797 will reveal a dramatic difference. It has been our experience that of all the half cent types, the 1794 is far and away the most difficult to obtain in high grades, handily eclipsing the even more famous 1793 Head Left, and by a large factor. Indeed, although the 1794 is not rare as a date in comparison to the famous 1793, all bets are off when it comes to pieces such as this, offering a combination of high grade, nicely preserved surfaces, and excellent eye appeal. Using these criteria, the 1794 Large Head type is the most difficult to obtain in the entire series. Only a few varieties of 1794 half cents are known in high grades, and a type collector would be hard pressed to find a nicer example in a Choice AU holder than this Cohen-9.
Copper supplies for the early Philadelphia Mint were from many different sources and the quality and purity of the metal varied. For 1794 the metal, after refining at the Mint, remained generally unsatisfactory, probably due to impurities and other unwanted elements, although we are not aware of any analysis that has ever been done. Not generally known is the fact that copper half cents and cents were usually profitable for the Mint to produce, as after the early years the amount of copper needed to make these coins was less than face value. This in contrast to the full or nearly full weight of metal required for silver and gold coins. Accordingly, the more copper coins that could be made, the greater the profits would be. On the other hand, profits from gold and silver coinage were negligible.
PCGS# 1003. NGC ID: 2223.
Click here for certification details from NGC.
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