LOT #2002 |
Current Bid: $25,000
1793 1C S-2 R4+ Chain AMERICA VF25 PCGS....
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Description
1793 S-2 Chain, AMERICA Cent, VF25
Late Die State
1793 1C S-2 R4+ Chain AMERICA VF25 PCGS. Glossy medium
chocolate brown with steel brown toning on the highpoints of the
devices. The surfaces are smooth except for a very thin planchet
fissure from the jaw into the field off the end of the bust (as
struck). The eye appeal of this cent is excellent, but there are a
few small contact marks scattered over both sides, mostly on the
obverse. The notable marks are a dull nick in the hair left of the
forehead, another on the jawline, a small dig in the field behind
the head, a pair of small rim nicks behind the head, and a minor
rim bruise at LI in LIBERTY. LDS, Breen state II, with a subtle
bulge through the base of the date. The bottom of the 1 is weak due
to the bulge but the rest of the date is bold and the legends are
strong. This cataloger's EAC grade is VF25+. The attribution
and COL Ellsworth Collection provenance are noted on the PCGS Gold
Shield label (35435.25/43987688).Ex Stack's 3/17/1979:1862 ($4200)-"L.J."-Superior 9/7/1997:30 ($6875)-COL Steven K. Ellsworth.
The Peter Mougey Collection, sold by Thomas L. Elder in New York on September 1-3, 1910, was one of the most celebrated American coin auctions of the early 20th century. Mougey, a Cincinnati collector, had spent decades assembling coins of exceptional quality, prioritizing preservation and eye appeal long before such standards were common. His holdings were sourced from many of the great 19th-century cabinets-Mickley, Winsor, Bushnell, Parmelee, Maris, and others-and were described by Elder as "the most far-sighted" of their time. The collection included landmark rarities across all U.S. series, from a near-complete run of early gold eagles, half eagles, and quarter eagles, to Gobrecht dollars in multiple varieties, top-condition half dollars and quarters, and extensive proof sets. It was also rich in colonial issues, medals, and foreign gold, including a unique Bechtler $5 piece from Rutherford County.
Most celebrated, however, were Mougey's cents and half cents, which Elder described as the "crowning feature" of the collection. The cent cabinet included the two finest known 1793s, a remarkable 1793 Chain cent nearly uncirculated, and an extraordinary 1848 Small Date from the Parmelee Collection. The half cents were equally impressive, complete in all major varieties, often in uncirculated or proof preservation. This emphasis on quality and completeness made the Mougey Collection a landmark in American copper collecting, comparable only to a handful of great cabinets before or since. For its breadth, condition, and pedigree, the sale was a milestone that shaped collector expectations for generations, establishing a standard of quality that still resonates in numismatic scholarship and the marketplace today. This important sale is not found in the Ellsworth Collection provenance details.
Coin Index Numbers: (NGC ID# 223F, Variety PCGS# 35435, Base PCGS# 1341, Greysheet# 76718)
Weight: 13.48 grams
Metal: 100% Copper
Auction Info
2026 January 8 US Coins Signature Auction - FUN Special Sessions: Ellsworth & Jacobson #1389 (go to Auction Home page)
Proxy Bidding Ends
January
8th
Thursday
5:50 pm CT
Auction Dates
January
8th
Thursday
Proxy Bidding Time Remaining
14 Days
15h 59m 57s
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 17
Lot Tracking Activity: 100
Page Views: 1,073
Buyer's Premium per Lot:
22% of the successful bid (minimum $29) per lot.
This lot is in: 2 -
Signature® Floor Session - The COL Steven Ellsworth Collection of U.S. Large Cents 1793-1796 (Live Floor, Live Phone, Mail, Fax, Internet, and Heritage Live):
(Lots 2001-2099) - 6:00 PM Central Time, Thursday, January 8, 2026 (7:00 PM Eastern Time).
[Proxy bidding ends ten minutes prior to the session start time. Live Proxy bidding on Heritage Live now starts within 2 hours of when the auction opens for proxy bidding and continues through the live session.]
Exhibition Viewing Times, Title Page, Floor Session and License Information
Additional Location Info:
Orange County Convention Center
North/South Building
9400 Universal Blvd.
Orlando, FL 32819
Rasmussen Special Edition Catalog
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