1793 1C Wreath, Vine and Bars, BN MS(PCGS#1347)

November 2025 Showcase Auction U.S. Coins

Auctioneer

Stack's Bowers

Lot Number

2015

Grade

F15BN

Price

9,600

Lot Description

Breen Die State I. This visually engaging piece exhibits blended reddish-rose highlights to dominant orange-brown patina. Peripheral softness is noted for both sides, but affecting only the borders, allowing ready appreciation of uniformly bold detail to the major design elements. A few tiny, widely scattered marks and pits hardly detract on surfaces that present as overall smooth during in hand viewing; a small spot in the field above the rear of Liberty's head serves as a particularly useful identifier.<p>While Chain cents often attract the most interest for their position as the first made, there is not a collector alive who would assert that Chain cents are more beautiful than their Wreath reverse counterparts. Breen boldly suggested that the elegance of the Wreath cents "was Director David Rittenhouse's answer to the newspaper criticisms" lodged against the Chain cent. Though no evidence exists to support this, the fact remains that the Wreaths represented a substantial step up in both design artistry and engraving execution. The details of this fine style design are lost with even light wear, making high grade Wreath cents such as this the crown princes of the early copper world.<p>In any numismatic season a 1793 Wreath cent is an object of desire, and even coins that are worn nearly smooth command interest and attention. The 2000 reference <em>Walter Breen's Encyclopedia of Early United States Cents: 1793-1814</em> states that approximately 4% of the mintage of 63,353 coins for the 1793 Wreath cent is extant, or 2,400 to 2,800 in all grades. Most of these are of the Sheldon-9 variety, represented here, which is believed to have comprised 22,000 of the coins delivered April 13 through 18, 1793. Both type collectors and early copper enthusiasts will take note of our offering of this bold and handsome Choice Fine survivor.