LOT #2086 |
Current Bid: $320
1795 1C S-79 R7- Reeded Edge, VG Detail, Environmental Damage, PCGS....
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Description
1795 S-79 Reeded Edge Cent, VG Details
Listed in Pattern References
1795 1C S-79 R7- Reeded Edge, VG Detail, Environmental Damage,
PCGS. Slightly glossy light to medium chocolate brown with
lighter brown toning on the devices, particularly on the reverse.
The highpoints are reasonably smooth but fine roughness covers the
fields and protected areas. No verdigris but there are some marks.
The notable marks are a pair of rather deep digs on the cap, a dull
scrape right of the date, and a shallow but rather wide horizontal
scratch at the top of the wreath. The date and legends are complete
and easily readable except for OF (which is faint but still
readable). The experimental edge reeding is clear and nearly
complete. The Sheldon-79 variety combines a unique 1795 obverse die
mated with a reverse die that was used to strike not only this
variety but no less than six Draped Bust varieties dated 1796
(S-106 through S-111). With only ten examples known the S-79
variety is the undisputed key to completing a set of the numbered
Sheldon varieties from 1793 S-1 through 1814 S-295. Graded VG8
sharpness net G4 and tied for CC#5 in the Noyes census, his photo
#62788. Bland says G5 and tied for CC#4. Graded "a very lovely and
pleasing G5" by Dr. Sheldon in an 8 January 1964 letter to the
owner/auctioneer, Mr. McKinney. This cataloger's EAC grade is
net G5. The finest example of the S-79 variety is a PCGS graded
VG10 (this cataloger's EAC grade VG8) that sold for $1,265,000 as
lot #128 in the 9/6/2009 auction of the Daniel W. Holmes, Jr.
Collection (Goldbergs held in association with McCawley & Grellman
Auctions). The Holmes coin was the first U.S. large cent of any die
variety to break the $1 million barrier in an auction. The next
finest is a damaged VF20 sharpness net VG7 piece that resides in
the ANS Collection. Our grades for the other eight examples (all
net due to defects) are 6-5(3)-3-2-1-X (a holed obverse brockage
strike). The back story for the coin offered here was presented in
an article beginning on page 12 in the September 2015 issue of Coin
World. A wholly acceptable example of the undisputed "key" to
completing a Sheldon or "Redbook" collection. The attribution and
COL Ellsworth Collection provenance are noted on the PCGS Gold
Shield label (35738.97/44238859).Ex an Old Texas Collection, L. R. Davis McKinney, Jr., House of Davis McKinney 1/25/1964:227-L. R. Davis McKinney, Jr., House of Davis McKinney 12/15/1968:36-L. R. Davis McKinney, Jr.-McKinney Estate, Heritage Auctions (2016 FUN Convention Sale) 1/7/2016:5225 ($258,500)-COL Steven K. Ellsworth.
The January 2016 Heritage FUN Sale in Tampa featured a number of notable consignments, with early copper standing out through the inclusion of several landmark pieces. Chief among them was the House of Davis McKinney specimen of the 1795 S-79 Reeded Edge cent, long considered the rarest Sheldon-numbered variety of large cents. With only ten confirmed examples known, this piece represented a rediscovery for the Condition Census, as prior censuses had listed the coin as "untraced." Its appearance immediately drew the attention of copper specialists, reaffirming the enduring intrigue of this enigmatic early variety.
Other early copper in the sale included selections from several featured collections, with strong offerings of both half cents and large cents across the 18th and early 19th centuries. Highlights ranged from 1793 Chain and Wreath issues through Draped Bust cents, including scarce overdates and unusual die states that appealed to variety specialists. The careful cataloguing by Heritage emphasized provenance, condition, and rarity, with many pieces tracing pedigrees through important prior collections. Collectively, these coppers anchored the sale's role as both a marketplace and a scholarly reference point, ensuring that the 2016 FUN auction remains remembered as a significant event for the large cent community.
Census of 1795 Sheldon-79 Reeded Edge Cents, Updated November 2025
1. VG8. Dr. S.T. Millard; B. Max Mehl (3/1915), lot 75; G. Kraft; Robert D. Book (5/1930); George H. Clapp, traded for a "famous 1794 Cent"; Howard R. Newcomb (J.C. Morgenthau & Co., 2/1945), lot 76; James Kelly (Fixed Price #21, #22, and #23, 1945-1947); Celina Coin Co. (3/1947), lot 2037; James Kelly (11/1947), lot 927; James Kelly (4/1948), lot 1327; Christian M. Petersen; Hollinbeck Coin Co. (10/1953), lot 278; Dr. William H. Sheldon (4/1972); R.E. Naftzger, Jr. (2/1992); Eric Streiner; Anthony Terranova (12/1993); Daniel W. Holmes, Jr. (Goldberg Coins, 9/2009), lot 128; Adam Mervis Collection (Heritage, 1/2014), lot 2528.
2. VG7. W. Elliot Woodward (4/1890), lot 866; Charles Steigerwalt; Hon. George W. Lewis; Henry Chapman (6/1916), lot 633; Dr. Charles E. McGirk; Walter F. Webb (2/1937); George H. Clapp; American Numismatic Society.
3. Good 6. Homer K. Downing, discovered in 1947 in a New York City coin dealer's junk box; 1952 ANA Sale (New Netherlands, 8/1952), lot 1712; K.P. Austin; Alan J. Brotman (Numismatic Gallery, 1973); First Coinvestors; Pine Tree (2/1975), lot 663; First Coinvestors (4/1976); Denis W. Loring (6/1976); Robinson S. Brown, Jr. (Superior, 9/1986), lot 105; Jack H. Robinson (Superior, 1/1989), lot 147; G. Lee Kuntz (Superior Galleries, 10/1991), lot 90; John R. Frankenfield (5/1995); Daniel W. Holmes (9/1995); Robinson S. Brown, Jr. (Superior 1/1996), lot 112; W.M. "Jack" Wadlington (8/2005); Dr. Ralph W. Rucker; Early Cents Auctions (May 2022 FPL).
4. Good 5. From an old Texas Collection; L.R. Davis McKinney, Jr.; House of Davis McKinney #22 (1/1964), lot 227; House of Davis McKinney (12/1968), lot 36; L.R. Davis McKinney, Jr.; McKinney Estate (Heritage, 1/2016), lot 5225; COL Steven K. Ellsworth. The present specimen.
5. Good 5. Henry Chapman, discovered in a large lot of old coins; Henry Chapman (6/1916), lot 634; Henry Chapman (3/1917), lot 549; Howard R. Newcomb (2/1939); Henry C. Hines (1945); Dr. William H. Sheldon; Dorothy Paschal (1/1974); Denis W. Loring (5/1974); Dr. Robert J. Shalowitz; George Korsing; American Auction Association (1/1975), lot 908; George Korsing; Hap Seiders; Ronald Cooper; NASCA (11/1977), lot 96; Heritage (1/2011), lot 5422; ESM Collection (Stack's Bowers, 8/2020), lot 1015.
6. Good 4. First seen at Baltimore in March 2010 and again in Baltimore on June 17, 2010, the property of John Baker, who discovered the coin in a group of coins given to him by his father many years earlier; Goldberg Coins (9/2010), lot 796; Robert Padula (Heritage, 9/2017), lot 4230; Poulos Family Collection (Heritage, 9/2019), lot 4608.
7. Good 4. Brower's Stamp and Coin in Florence, Oregon (circa 2003/2004), purchased over the counter as part of a large group of coins; unknown collector; Brower's Stamp and Coin, repurchased from the heirs of the preceding; a second unknown collector; Bowers and Merena (11/2008), lot 1143; Terry Denman.
8. Fair 2. Christy's Auction House (Indianapolis, Indiana,1999); Charles C. Knapp (1/22/2010); M. Scott Barrett (3/6/2010); M. Scott Barrett and Steven K. Ellsworth, jointly (5/1/2010); Steven K. Ellsworth, solely (5/26/2010); L. Michael Lawrence (9/1/2010); Steven K. Ellsworth (9/2010); Steven K. Ellsworth and M. Scott Barrett, jointly (5/5/2012); Gerald M. Stubblefield (6/10/2012); Steven K. Ellsworth and M. Scott Barrett, jointly (5/7/2013); M. Scott Barrett, solely (7/8/2014); Donald Stoebner (via Shawn Yancey); Heritage (9/2019), lot 3175.
9. Fair 2. From the obverse and reverse dies of the S-79, but without visible edge reeding. Heritage (1/2012), lot 3034; Greg Hannigan; Adam Mervis; Greg Hannigan; Shawn Yancey; Ken Myers, Jr.; New Cumberland Collection (Shawn Yancey, 2024 FPL).
10. Fine Details, Holed brockage PCGS. Homer K. Downing, discovered in 1944 in a Chicago coin dealer's junk box; Dr. William H. Sheldon (1945); 1952 ANA Sale (New Netherlands, 1952), lot 1712a; Dr. Charles L. Ruby (12/1972); Superior Stamp & Coin Co.; Superior (2/1974), lot 414; Alan J. Brotman (Numismatic Gallery); Kagin's (11/1974), lot 51; Alan J. Brotman (Numismatic Gallery, 11/1974); Denis W. Loring (1/1975); Alan J. Brotman (Numismatic Gallery); later, Global Showcase Auction (Stack's Bowers, 8/2024), lot 3015.
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
9 Days
20h 18m 51s
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 8
Lot Tracking Activity: 21
Page Views: 333
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
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