1793
Flowing Hair Chain cent
Most United States
coins struck since 1793 have borne the name of the
issuing authority UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
However, on one coin - the first die variety of the 1793 Flowing Hair, Chain cent - the
engraver abbreviated AMERICA for reasons we may
never know for certain.
When engraving the first die, the
engraver attempted to spell out UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA, but stopped before he finished AMERICA.
He stopped after AMERI., and added a period to
make it an abbreviation. There was space for the
CA, but for some reason, possibly because of a
desire for symmetry, the word was
unfinished.
The second reverse die for the Chain cent features AMERICA fully
spelled out.
The 1793 Flowing Hair, Chain cent is
considered one of the most desirable of all United
States coins for several reasons.
It was the first United
States coin struck on site at the Philadelphia
Mint, on March 1-12, 1793. That fact will forever
ensure it a special place in most
collections.
The mintage of 36,103
pieces is minuscule by today's standards, in which
cent mintages total more than 10 billion coins per
year.
The reverse 15-link chain meant to
represent the unity of the 15 states was perceived
by many as a symbol of slavery - not a good omen
for a new nation. Thus, the reverse design was
quickly changed to a wreath
design.
