US Coins

Market Analysis: Rare Sheldon 68 variety in a top grade

Around 40 examples of the S-68 1794 Liberty Cap, Head of 1795 cent are known. This is one of the finest and is now graded MS-62 brown. It sold for $186,000 at Early Cents Auctions.

Images by Early Cents Auctions.

The most expensive cent in the Early Cents Auctions offering of the exceptional Del & Larry Bland Collection of 1794 Cents was a Sheldon 68 1794 Liberty Cap, Head of 1795 cent graded Mint State 62 brown by Numismatic Guaranty Co. that realized $186,000.

The cataloger observed, “Frosty mint luster shows through in protected areas and the reverse fields are slightly reflective,” adding “just a touch of rub on the highest points from mint state,” before noting that it was previously removed from a Professional Coin Grading Service slab graded About Uncirculated 58.

Also noted, “The only identifying mark is a small patch of microscopic planchet roughness between the U in UNITED and the adjacent ribbon end.”

It has a provenance that goes back to 1899 when it was owned by J. Sanford Saltus. A yellow collector mark on the edge, reading “HD,” indicates that it was once part of the Homer K. Downing Collection, and more recently it was offered at Heritage’s 2014 auction of the Larry A. Bland Collection at the Florida United Numismatists convention where it brought $235,000. That entry stated that fewer than 40 examples of the variety are known today.

Connect with Coin World:  
Sign up for our free eNewsletter
Access our Dealer Directory  
Like us on Facebook  
Follow us on Twitter


Community Comments