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1793 1C S-8 R3 Wreath Cent, Vine & Bars Edge, Small LIBERTY, MS62 Brown PCGS....
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Sold on Jan 8, 2026 for:
$79,300.00
Bid Source: HA.com/Live bidder
Description
1793 S-8 Wreath Cent, MS62 Brown
The 1869 Crosby-Levick (Reverse) Plate Coin
1793 1C S-8 R3 Wreath Cent, Vine & Bars Edge, Small LIBERTY,
MS62 Brown PCGS. Glossy light olive blending to reddish
chocolate brown in protected areas, particularly on the obverse.
Sharply struck with smooth fields and very nice eye appeal.
Possibly retoned long ago. Nearly void of marks; a tiny
struck-through line at the right foot of the N in CENT (caused by a
piece of debris/lint on the die) can help identify this cent.
M-LDS, Breen state II late, with a die crack that bisects the
reverse from the first T in STATES to the second A in AMERICA.
Flowlines connect the tops of RTY to the beads above. Graded MS60
net AU50 and tied for CC#9 in the Noyes census, his photo #31761.
Bland says AU55 and tied for CC#3. This cataloger's EAC grade is
MS60. The reverse of this cent is shown in the famous
Crosby-Levick plate that was published in the April 1869 issue of
the American Journal of Numismatics. The plate was of surprisingly
good quality for the day and it was the earliest photographic
reference available for identifying large cent varieties. The plate
showed 12 obverse and 10 reverse dies. Since then three additional
dies have been discovered: two obverse and one reverse. This
beautiful cent comes with a remarkable provenance that has remained
unbroken for well over 100 years. The attribution and COL Ellsworth
Collection provenance are noted on the PCGS Gold Shield label
(35456.62/35082875).Ex Sylvester Sage Crosby-Dr. Augustine Shurtleff 2/27/1901-Museum of Fine Arts (Boston), Stack's (1976 ANA Convention Sale), 8/24/1976:223 ($8000)-Stack's (privately)-Eric J. Streiner, Superior 5/31/1992:422 ($15,950)-John B. MacDonald-Robert C. Clark, Bowers & Merena (2000 ANA Convention Sale) 8/9/2000:209 ($29,900)-Chris McCawley, Superior held in association with McCawley & Grellman Auctions 9/23/2002:33 ($24,150)-Fred Yee, Heritage Auctions 9/6/2012:3385 ($64,625)-COL Steven K. Ellsworth.
The Stack's 85th Annual ANA Convention Auction, conducted August 24-28, 1976 in New York, was one of the firm's largest convention offerings of the decade, covering United States and foreign gold, silver, copper, patterns, and paper money. Of particular note was the catalog's handling of early federal copper, with both half cents and large cents given strong emphasis. By the mid-1970s, the copper market was rapidly gaining prominence, and Stack's highlighted this by featuring multiple rarities, careful descriptions, and pedigreed coins that drew national attention. The overall strength of bidding, as reflected in the prices realized, underscored the growing recognition of early copper as a core specialty within U.S. numismatics.
The large cent section was especially significant, beginning with a wide run of 1793 Chain, Wreath, and Liberty Cap cents, followed by numerous 1794 varieties and early Draped Bust issues. The catalog also presented solid selections of 1796-1797 Draped Bust cents and late 18th-century dates through 1799, giving specialists the opportunity to pursue both major types and elusive die marriages. These results placed the sale firmly in line with the great copper auctions of the period, such as those of Robinson S. Brown, and reflected the sustained energy in the early American copper community.
The half cent offerings added further depth, beginning with 1793 and 1794 Liberty Caps, continuing through scarce Draped Bust dates, and culminating with later proof-only issues of the 1830s-1850s. Several rare varieties sold strongly, and collector enthusiasm was evident in the competition for coins that combined technical quality with aesthetic appeal. Together, the half cent and large cent sections demonstrated Stack's ability to balance variety coverage, condition quality, and market appeal at a pivotal moment in U.S. copper collecting. The 1976 ANA sale thus stands out not only as a landmark convention auction but also as a benchmark in the pricing and presentation of early American copper, reinforcing the series' importance in advanced collections.
From The COL Steven Ellsworth Collection of U.S. Large Cents 1793-1796.
Coin Index Numbers: (NGC ID# 223H, Variety PCGS# 35456, Base PCGS# 1347, Greysheet# 76725)
Weight: 13.48 grams
Metal: 100% Copper
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: 20
Lot Tracking Activity: N/A
Page Views: 1,851
Buyer's Premium per Lot:
22% of the successful bid per lot.
Rasmussen Special Edition Catalog
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This hard bound volume contains the magnificent Wes Rasmussen Large Cent Collection, formed by a former President of the Early American Coppers society which was auctioned at the 2005 Florida United Numismatic Auction. Reserve your copy of this remarkable volume for just $75 today.
Rasmussen Signed Limited Edition Catalog
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