Mint State 1794 S-26 Cent

1794 1C Head of '94. MS65 Brown PCGS. S-26, B-16, R.2. Bland MS60; tied for CC-3. Noyes MS60; CC-4. Photo #22506. Our EAC Grade MS60.

Equivalents. Maris 15 (Separated Date); Frossard 10.1; Doughty 35; Hays 21; McGirk 1-A; Ross 14-N; Chapman 18; EAC 11; Encyclopedia 1658; PCGS #901374.

Variety. Date has 7 and 9 widely spaced, 9 and 4 lean left. Die chip at left side of O in OF. The obverse appears on S-25, S-26, NC-8, and NC-11. The reverse appears on S-26. Lettered Edge, leaf points up. The obverse is the same as S-25, NC-8, and NC-11, but has been heavily lapped, separating many hair strands. S-25 and NC-8 are earlier states, and S-26 and NC-11 are lapped states.

Surfaces. Lustrous light brown surfaces retain hints of faded mint red on both sides. The reverse has considerable original color and rates better than MS60. A small linear depression on Liberty's neck is a useful identifier. The sharp impression is nicely centered with full obverse and reverse details.

Die State IV. An intermediate die state. The reverse has a prominent crack through the E of STATES, but no trace of a second crack that develops through the first S. A tiny die chip is over the I in AMERICA.

Appearances. The obverse and reverse are illustrated in the 1879 Frossard Monograph, in Breen's Large Cent Encyclopedia, and in Noyes (2006). The obverse is illustrated in Chapman. The reverse is illustrated in Noyes (1991).

Census. The four best examples of S-26 listed by Bland and Noyes grade Mint State, followed by five other AU coins. Two of the four Mint State coins have pedigrees dating to the 19th century.

Commentary. This die combination is generally available in a wide range of grades, including AU and Mint State, an important consideration for type collectors that desire an attractive Head of '94 cent.

The rolling machinery at the first Mint was operated by horsepower. James Davy recommended a few changes to the current procedure, including the use of a water wheel in place of horses.

"It is now also passed through the rollers warm the first or second time, if not both, by which they are soon much heated, and of course much time is lost while they are cooling, and the rollers are much more injured, than if the metal were cold as it is done in England; but to perform this the power must be greater and the rollers much larger than they now are, and a water wheel will be cheaper than horses which are now used.

"The pinions by which the motion is communicated from one roller to the other are much too short, and made of copper, are consequently wear out speedily; they should be from 8 to 12 inches long, and of cast iron, with the teeth, or cogs, much closer than those now in use. When the metal is passed through the rollers the last time a small stream of water should flow over them. When the metal is rolled of a proper, and regular thickness it is cut out in round blanks at the press, of the proper size; a saving may be made in the expense of labour in this branch, as a child may attend it with equal advantage as a man, who is now employed."

Provenance. George W. Merritt (Ed. Frossard, 1/1879), lot 98, $12.50; George H. Blanchard; W. Elliot Woodward (12/1882), lot 358, $9.25; E.F. Kuithan (Ed. Frossard, 6/1883), lot 248, $18.75; Ed. Frossard Collection (Ed. Frossard, Sale #37, 10/1884), lot 868; T. Harrison Garrett; Robert Garrett (1919); John Work Garrett; Johns Hopkins University (privately, 1973); John W. Adams (Bowers and Ruddy, 1982 FPL), lot 19, $9,000; Del Bland (11/1984); Dr. Allen Bennett (4/1992); Eric Streiner; Superior (10/1992), lot 64, $15,400; Anthony Terranova.

Personality. Thomas Harrison Garrett was born February 11, 1849, and died June 7, 1888, when the family yacht collided with a steamboat. The elder Garrett was employed by Robert Garrett & Son, a Baltimore banking business. He was also president of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. He began collecting coins in 1865 and had a world-class collection by 1885, considered second only to the Parmelee Collection. The Garrett family home in Baltimore, Evergreen House, is operated as a museum today. (#35543)

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