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1792 Washington Roman Head Cent PR63 Red and Brown NGC. Baker-19, W-10840, GW-21, R.6....
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Sold on Jan 14, 2026 for:
$58,560.00
Bid Source: Internet bidder
Description
1792 Washington Roman Head Cent
Beautiful PR63 Red and Brown Example
Baker-19, W-10840
1792 Washington Roman Head Cent PR63 Red and Brown NGC.
Baker-19, W-10840, GW-21, R.6. Chestnut and sunrise-yellow hues
dominate the surfaces, with hints of blue-steel on the high points.
Strike is bold, and the fields are clean.The obverse of this token portrays Washington in the outfit of a Roman official. Roman depictions of Washington were common on pieces of the time, with a Roman-style wreath shown on Washington's head on many of the British-produced WASHINGTON & INDEPENDENCE examples, along with a toga on many of those types. The same occurred in other forms, such as statues, where a likeness of Washington as a Roman emperor was located on the U.S. capital grounds for years. However, Washington did not like this depiction. In his Complete Encyclopedia of U.S. and Colonial Coins, Walter Breen suggests that this emboldened the British minters, dubbing the token "Hancock's Revenge":
"When news of Washington's rejection reached Birmingham, John Gregory Hancock (doubtless with Westwood's gleeful consent, possibly at his instigation) undertook an extraordinary piece of revenge. As Washington's spokesmen had compared the idea of presidential portraits on coins to the practices of Nero, Caligula, and Cromwell, so Hancock's (and/or Westwood's) idea was to portray Washington on a coin as a degenerate, effeminate Roman emperor. Hancock's satirical masterpieces, the 'Roman Head' cents manage to convey this impression--with a subtle resemblance. ... Beginning as tokens of incredible spite, these cents have become among the most highly coveted of Washington items."
The Roman Head Cent is part of the Conder token series and was not intended for circulation. Only one die marriage exists, known equivalently as Baker-19, Breen-1249, Fuld-WA.1792.3, and W-10840, In his book, Whitman Encyclopedia of Colonial and Early American Coins, Q. David Bowers states, "Nearly all are in high grades, Proof-63 being about par." Listed on pages 48-49 of the 2026 Guide Book.
Coin Index Numbers: (NGC ID# 2B7G, PCGS# 732, Greysheet# 271)
Auction Info
2026 January 14 - 17 FUN US Coins Signature® Auction #1390 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
January, 2026
14th-17th
Wednesday-Saturday
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 14
Lot Tracking Activity: N/A
Page Views: 765
Buyer's Premium per Lot:
22% of the successful bid per lot.
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