1814 1C Plain 4, BN MS(PCGS#1576)

Spring 2026 Showcase Auction U.S. Coins

Auctioneer

Stack's Bowers

Lot Number

2239

Grade

MS62+BN

Price

10,800

Lot Description

Breen Die State XIII, one of the "beard varieties" of this Sheldon number, so-named due to the crumbling along the bottom of Liberty's chin, from the mouth to the throat. This is a generally autumn-brown example with swirls of darker steely-copper color that are more numerous and extensive on the obverse. The latter are associated with light carbon that helps to explain the base MS-62 numeric grade from PCGS, but we see no troublesome marks. Hard and frosty, in fact, with plenty of good gloss further enhancing the quality and eye appeal. Peripheral softness is due to the advanced die state, but the major design elements are boldly to sharply rendered.<p>John Reich's Classic Head cent series passed into coinage history in 1814 with a reported mintage of 357,830 pieces for the year. The United States was in the throes of the War of 1812 at the time. Although the Treaty of Ghent signed on December 24, 1814, ended the conflict with Great Britain, future president Andrew Jackson would lead U.S. forces to victory in the Battle of New Orleans on January 8, 1815, unaware of the treaty's signing. The United States government did not officially ratify the treaty until February 18, 1815. Among the many adverse effects of the war was the interruption of deliveries of copper planchets to the United States Mint. The Mint's principal supplier of this coinage metal at the time was Matthew Boulton, located in Birmingham, England. Indeed, his last shipment to the United States before the war (which officially commenced on June 18, 1812), was made in January 1811, the copper arriving sometime before May 9, 1812. No more shipments were made until after the cessation of hostilities, and the Mint's existing supply was exhausted by the end of 1814, explaining the lack of 1815-dated cents (although some numismatists believe that late die state Sheldon-295 coins were struck that year). When coinage of this denomination resumed in 1816, Reich's Classic Head motif had been replaced by the Matron Head design of Engraver Robert Scot.<p>According to Breen, Chief Coiner Adam Eckfeldt delivered the year's production of cents to Mint Treasurer Benjamin Rush on October 27, 1814. The author continues the story:<p><em>The cents were paid out about December 26 to the Bank of Pennsylvania, from which they went to the general public.</em><p><em>Unsurprisingly, gem Uncirculated 1814s are unobtainable, though both varieties of this date are plentiful in all lower grades.</em><p><em></em>Despite Breen's comments, a very small number of superior quality 1814 cents are known to today's collectors, including this Mint State Sheldon-295. Additional Mint State survivors are known, in which grades the 1814 is the most available issue of its type, perhaps because the contemporary public set aside a number of these cents as the last of their design. In an absolute sense, of course, any Classic Head Cent certified as Mint State is very scarce in an absolute sense and rare from a market availability standpoint. The offered coin is a noteworthy example that will certainly elicit strong bids from both variety specialists and high grade type collectors.