Finest Known 1794 S-33 'Wheel Spoke' Cent

1794 1C Head of '94. VF35 PCGS. S-33, B-19, R.6. Bland VF25; CC-1. Noyes VF25; CC-1. Photo #21888. Our EAC Grade VF25.

Equivalents. Hays 27; McGirk 3-F; Ross 17-S; Chapman 12; EAC 18; Encyclopedia 1661; PCGS #901374.

Variety. Fourth and sixth locks from bottom turn upward. Bulged inside wreath; usually with "wheel spoke" die cracks. The obverse appears on S-32, S-33, and S-34. The reverse appears on S-33. Lettered Edge, leaf points up.

Surfaces. Glossy tan and dark brown surfaces with a few insignificant marks on each side.

Die State V. The obverse has a rim break over LI, similar to late states of S-32. Six wheel-spoke die cracks are seen on the reverse (and numbered in the order they formed): left of U (3), through I of UNITED (1), between D and S (5), over AT (6), to the top of the first A in AMERICA (2), and from the border to the right ribbon end (4). The central reverse bulge has developed, weakening ONE CENT. A little more wear would have obliterated the denomination entirely, as on most other known examples.

We are aware of only one example with none of the die cracks. That coin, grading just Good, was discovered by Homer Downing, later in the collection of Jack Robinson. Although none of the cracks had developed, the central reverse bulge is immediately apparent. The die caved in at the center, and cracked as a result. It is likely that the damage occurred as the die was being prepared for coinage.

Appearances. The reverse is illustrated in Penny Whimsy. The obverse and reverse are illustrated in Noyes (1991 and 2006) and in Breen's Large Cent Encyclopedia. The plate coin in Breen's Large Cent Encyclopedia is misidentified in that reference as the Sears-ANS coin.

Census. Discovered in 1950, this example is the finest known of the variety, and has never before been offered for sale at auction. The second finest, in the ANS collection, also grades VF. Rounding out the Census of the six finest coins are two that grade Fine, and two others graded VG.

Commentary. The S-33 is a rare and famous die marriage known as the Wheel Spoke, with six short radial die cracks on the reverse of most known examples. In 1949, Sheldon knew of eight coins. The population increased (by this coin) to nine pieces in 1958. Half a century later, in 2008, there are 24 examples recorded by Bill Noyes. He illustrated 23 of the 24 pieces in his 2006 photographic reference.

The Wheel Spoke was discovered by W.W. Hays in 1888, who also found the next two examples. Since he identified the first three examples, the variety is also known as the Hays Variety. Today, just one example has a pedigree that can be traced back to Hays.

Provenance. Discovered in Los Angeles by Harold Straight (1950); Dr. William H. Sheldon (4/1972); R.E. Naftzger, Jr. (2/1992); Eric Streiner (1/1993); Tom Morley (10/1993); Dr. Robert A. Schuman (4/1998).

Personality. George Brening (or Breining) was a smith at the Mint who signed the January 1, 1793, Mint Rules and Regulations document, and remained on the Mint payroll in January 1800. On August 31, 1799, a George Boeming signed the Bond of Indemnity. It is likely that these names represent the same individual. (#35564)

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