An Elusive Rarity: 1793 Flowing Hair Wreath Cent Vine and Bars

There are rare coins and then there are ultra-rare coins. The 1793 Flowing Hair Wreath Cent Vine and Bars is a landmark coin, which is virtually impossible to find in high grades today. The survival estimate stands at only 8 for grades 65 or better. It is still an extremely hard-to-find rarity in grades 60 or better with only 40 survivors.

What makes this large copper cent one of the most desirable specimens for astute collectors of early American coins?

Large cent coins were first struck in copper in 1793 at the Philadelphia Mint. The first version known today as the Chain Reverse was criticized widely with newspaper articles decrying that the chain design made it appear as if “Liberty was in chains.”

Swiftly, Mint Director David Rittenhouse ordered a new design for the large cent and the Wreath Reverse version was minted later that year. The 1793 1C Flowing Hair Wreath coin represented a substantial step up in both design artistry and engraving execution from its predecessor: the Chain Reverse.

The coin’s obverse features Liberty with voluminous hair flowing back as she gazes steadily upward. The reverse features an intricate and attractive wreath, with berries depicted on long strands, some of which intertwine delicately with the branches. The long leaves are believed to be the laurel species (Laurus nobilis) which was native to ancient Greece and used to crown the winners of sporting events. Numismatic historians believe this depiction of the laurel wreath may have been featured on this coin as a symbol of America’s hard-fought freedom won through the Revolutionary War.

Who designed this hard-to-find beauty? While there is no absolute proof and various candidates have been put forward throughout history, today it is believed that Henry Voight designed this coin. Voight was a watch maker and machinist who notably repaired clocks and watches for Thomas Jefferson. He was appointed as Chief Coiner at the Philadelphia Mint in January 1793.

However, just a few months after the Wreath design was introduced, the Mint moved to yet a third design for the 1793 large cent, known as the Liberty Cap style. Liberty Cap style cents were minted from 1793 until 1796.

So, the 1793 Flowing Hair Wreath Cent Vine and Bars design was produced only one year in American history. When a 1793 Wreath cent surfaces for sale, it is usually a short-lived event as this coin commands intense interest and desirability in the numismatics community.

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