1794 1C Bent Lock, S-22, BN MS(PCGS#35531)

August 2020 U.S. Coins Auction

Auctioneer

Stack's Bowers

Lot Number

1158

Grade

MS63BN

Price

21,600

Lot Description

Choice Mint State 1794 S-22 Cent Ex Dupont (1954) - Robinson (1987) 1794 Liberty Cap Cent. S-22. Rarity-1. Head of 1794. MS-63 BN (PCGS). The pleasing patina of terracotta and chocolate brown shades offers golden undertones beneath a light source. Ideally centered on both sides with nearly full denticles at the obverse rim. Struck from an intermediate state equivalent to Noyes Die State B/C, with a crack at the 4 in the date and well-developed mounds through the reverse wreath. Even so, impressive definition is retained throughout Liberty's hair. An historic piece that we first offered in our September 1954 sale of the Dupont Collection, noting that it is "worthy of a place in the most discriminating cabinet." A short mark on Liberty's cheek serves as a convenient pedigree marker for tracing this through future cabinets. Sheldon-22 is the Bent Hair Lock, Mounded Reverse variety of the 1794 Liberty Cap cent. These names are derived from the downward bend of the sixth hair lock of Liberty's portrait and die swell on the reverse wreath, though the swelling is not always present in early die state states. As one of the nicest 1794 S-22 cents that we have handled in recent memory, we anticipate strong bidder competition for this premium quality example. Provenance: Ex our (Stack's) sale of the Charles J. Dupont Collection, September 1954, lot 30; Dorothy I. Paschal; Darwin B. Palmer, Jr. via Ray Chatham; Gordon J. Wrubel; Dr. Robert J. Shalowitz; Dr. Sheldon Freed, via Dr. Robert J. Shalowitz; Dr. C. R. Chambers, via Dr. Robert J. Shalowitz; Jack H. Robinson; McLaughlin & Robinson Coins Sale #4326, September 1987 lot 143; Evan Kopald; McCawley & Grellman Auctions #7, January 1993, lot 30; Dr. Thomas Turissini; Mark Hagen; Ira & Larry Goldberg Sale #81, August 2014, lot 139; Glenn Strauss; Ira & Larry Goldberg's sale of June 2018, lot 207; Ira & Larry Goldberg's sale #109, January 2019, lot 435; R. J. Rudolph Collection; Ira & Larry Goldberg's sale of February 2020, lot 637. PCGS Population (S-22): 2; none finer. PCGS# 35531. NGC ID: 223P. Click here for certification details from PCGS.