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1794 1C S-48 R4+ Head of 1794, Starred Reverse, VF Detail, Environmental Damage, PCGS....
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Sold on Jan 8, 2026 for:
$29,280.00
Bid Source: Internet bidder
Description
1794 S-48 Starred Reverse Cent, VF Details
Famous Guide Book Variety
1794 1C S-48 R4+ Head of 1794, Starred Reverse, VF Detail,
Environmental Damage, PCGS. Dull dark steel with uniform
microscopic granularity covering the planchet. Lightly burnished
long ago. Several years ago, it was retoned darker, likely from a
sulfur-based solution. Nicely detailed and one of four with this
many of the tiny stars at the dentils around the reverse that are
visible. No verdigris but there are a few small marks including a
shallow obvious dig on the forehead, a smaller one at the top of
the cap, and a tiny nick at the right top of the E in ONE. The
first two marks were not present when this cent was owned by your
cataloger and photographed by Bill Noyes, and the color was a mix
of medium brown, light chocolate, and olive brown. Perhaps another
re-toning may lighten this important example of this very popular
"Redbook" variety. The coin is far more attractive than described.
M-LDS, Breen state III, Heck state 2, Smith state c, with obvious
swelling at EN in CENT and from A in STATES to the top leaf in the
wreath. Graded VF20 net VG8 and tied for CC#12 in the Noyes census,
his photo #34101. Bland says VF20 net VG8 and tied for CC#12. Pete
Smith says F12 net VG8 in his 1986 reference The Story of the
Starred Reverse Cent. This cataloger's EAC grade is net
VG8. The attribution and COL Ellsworth Collection provenance
are noted on the PCGS Gold Shield label (35705.97/39230554).The great Dan Holmes once said, "Without the story behind the coin, it is just a lump of metal." The story behind this famous 1794 rarity is worth noting. Perhaps a decade ago, COL Ellsworth gave the coin to a friend, a respected numismatist who suggested that the burnished look could be improved over time with his unique and very personal toning process. One evening while visiting his girlfriend, it went missing. After an exhaustive search of where the rare coin had vanished, all was lost. Nearly a week had passed before the coin was found in his friend's driveway, with a new identifying mark on the cheek. I am sure the reader can speculate how and when this occurred.
Ex Frank D. Taylor, Henry Chapman 6/17/1908:18 (plated, $34)-Henry C. Hines-Sheraton Coin Co.-1947 ANA Convention Sale (Abe Kosoff, Numismatic Gallery) 8/27/1947:783 ($95)-Harold E. Whiteneck (Sheraton Coin Co.) 1947-Admiral Worthington S. Bitler 8/1960-Abe Kosoff-Paul A. Palmer-Abe Kosoff-Dr. Hiram T. Ward 7/1978-Denis W. Loring 7/1978-J. R. "Bob" Grellman, Jr. 1983-Frank Duvall, Mid-American Rare Coin Auctions 9/28/1984:67 (F12, $12,100)-COL Steven K. Ellsworth.
The June 1908 Henry Chapman sale included the F.D. Taylor Collection of United States Cents in Superb Preservation, a cabinet that emphasized quality over sheer breadth. The catalog opened with high-grade 1793 Chain and Wreath cents, followed by notable 1794s, including a cent with an obverse die unknown to Hays. Additional early date highlights included strong Liberty Caps, Draped Busts, and a choice 1799 cent, all singled out for exceptional surfaces and preservation.
Later coppers included scarce Classic Head issues and selected middle-date cents with unusually bright color or mint red. proof cents of the 1850s were also present, underscoring the focus on condition. The Taylor Collection, though smaller than earlier Chapman dispersals, was memorable for the quality of its early cents, providing copper collectors of the time with rare opportunities to secure condition census pieces.
From The COL Steven Ellsworth Collection of U.S. Large Cents 1793-1796.
View all of [The COL Steven Ellsworth Collection of U.S. Large Cents 1793-1796 ]
Auction Info
2026 January 8 US Coins Signature Auction - FUN Special Sessions: Ellsworth & Jacobson #1389 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
January, 2026
8th
Thursday
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 18
Lot Tracking Activity: N/A
Page Views: 362
Buyer's Premium per Lot:
22% of the successful bid per lot.
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