Auction Name: 2026 January 8 US Coins Signature Auction - FUN Special Sessions: Ellsworth & Jacobson

Lot Number: 2016

Shortcut to Lot: HA.com/1389*2016

1793 1C S-14 R4 Liberty Cap XF40 PCGS. Frosty medium brown and light chocolate with lighter brown in protected areas. A sharply detailed, very attractive Liberty Cap cent. Nicely centered with strong border beads around both sides. Just a couple defects including a dull diagonal scratch in the field under the cap and a spot of darker reddish brown toning at the M in AMERICA. The spot at the M contains microscopic roughness, mostly outside the border beads. A thin diagonal planchet fissure reaches from the right side of the N in UNITED to just below the left foot of the N in CENT, as struck. You would not notice the fissure if it were not toned a lighter shade of golden tan. Sharply struck MDS, Breen state II. The bisecting die crack on the obverse is strong and there are faint die clashmarks at the throat. Graded EF40 net VF30 and tied for CC#7 in the Noyes census, his photo #32644. Bland says VF35 and tied for CC#5. This cataloger's EAC grade is VF35. Another great 1793 Liberty Cap cent in this superior collection. Of all the 1793 Liberty Caps, this one is COL Steve's personal favorite. The attribution and COL Ellsworth Collection provenance are noted on the PCGS Gold Shield label (35492.40/16999817). The reverse of the holder is scuffed.
Ex W. E. Leistner, Glendining & Co., Ltd. (London, England) 10/15/1970:596 (£720; $1728)-Kenneth M. Goldman 1970-Ted Kress-Thomas E. Werner-Delaware Valley Coin Co., Auction '90 (Stack's) 8/10/1990:25 ($27,500)-Delaware Valley Coin Co., Bowers & Merena Rare Coin Review #82 and #83 (1991) ($38,500)-Dr. John A. Van Arsdall, Bowers & Merena (1993 FUN Convention Sale) 1/7/1993:218 (unsold)-Dr. John A. Van Arsdall, Bowers & Merena 11/18/1994:2027 ($24,750)-COL Steven K. Ellsworth.

The 1990 Apostrophe Sale, "Auction '90," conducted jointly by Stack's, RARCOA, Superior, and David W. Akers, featured a distinguished selection of early American copper that reaffirmed the prestige of these annual cooperative events. The half cents ranged from a lovely 1793 Cohen 3 in About Uncirculated condition to a series of spectacular proofs and restrikes from the 1830s through the 1850s, including original 1833, 1835, and 1836 issues, rare 1840 and 1841 restrikes, and a particularly notable 1857 proof. These pieces, many with strong pedigrees and Condition Census status, underscored the sale's emphasis on rarity and quality in early copper. The offering also included an experimental 1856 pattern alloy half cent struck in copper-nickel, the Breen plate coin, illustrating the sale's attention to both classic and esoteric copper specialties.

Large cents were similarly well represented, beginning with foundational 1793 Chain and Wreath cents in pleasing grades, followed by high-end 1794-1797 issues, several Condition Census examples, and the famous Nichols Find 1797. Noteworthy highlights included an About Uncirculated 1794 Sheldon 26 in the Condition Census, a Mint State 1796 Reverse of '97, and rare early 1800s dates culminating in an 1804 Sheldon 266 in About Uncirculated with an exceptional green patina. Later offerings included Mint State survivors from 1805, 1808, 1810/09, and 1814, as well as an 1837 cent in bright mint red and an 1856 proof cent, rare for its type. Together, the early copper in Auction '90 illustrated both the historical foundation and the advanced artistry of the U.S. Mint's earliest coinage, with the catalog cementing its reputation as a benchmark reference for copper specialists.

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