Liberty Cap Large Cents - Illustrated by 1794 S-24
I selected the 1794 Sheldon number 24 to illustrate the grading of Liberty cap large cents for several reasons. First of all, the S-24 is rated rarity 1 which means it is common. That means that I should be able to find a wide range of grades to use to make this guide. Next, the 1794 in my Library of Coins Album large cent set is an S-24. It is the VF-30 example in this guide. Also, like most varieties of 1794 it has quirks that need explanation. The S-24 has very full cheeks which can lead to over grading but it also is known by many examples in a late die state with a buckled reverse that leads to a weak center. Further, when I started this project I had the good fortune to take pictures of a mint state example. I am sorry to report that I lost those images to a computer virus. Thankfully several MS examples of S-24 are known so they opportunity to take another picture might happen again. I had put off posting this page until I could get a "proper" representation of the "standard" grades. Well, that did not happen. What follows is a selection of coins described as what they are. If you have any examples of S-24 that would flesh this out please get in touch with me and I will include them. Thanks, H. Craig Hamling
"Please allow images to load"
"Click images to view a composite image of
reflected and side light that will show the details and the color"
Good 4...
The good 4 Sheldon 24 cent will have loads of detail on the bust and a full date and LIBERTY with only the tops of the letters in liberty and the bottoms of the date worn into the rim. The top of the hair will be merged with the forhead. The hair behind the hair cord will show no separation. Most of the letters will show on the reverse but a few may be worn away. This example shows the central reverse gone due to die buckling.
Very Good 10...
This coin has Fine 12 sharpness but has some light obverse porosity which results in a net grade of VG-10. The date and liberty are clearly separated from the rim. There is a clear separation of the top of the hair and the forhead. The hair behind the hair cord will show some separation. The dentils on the rim will show just about all the way around the coin. The large mass of hair behind the cheeck is worn smooth. The central reverse will show some of ONE CENT.
Fine 15...
This lovely example of S-24 was cataloged in a recent sale as Fine 12. Two 1794 collectors who examined it called it VF-20. I have chosen to post it as Fine 15. It shows a tad more sharpness than the previous example. The large mass of hair behind the cheek shows some separation. There is a touch more detail in the central reverse on this example when compared to the Fine -12 sharpness coin.
Very Fine 25...
This VF-25 S-24 shows good separation of the hair behind the hair cord and the major mass of hair is now clearly separated into two sections. The cap on the pole which is worn flat in lower grade examples shows waves in the cloth. On the reverse the ribbon bow shows at the top but ONE CENT is still not complete in this example.
Very Fine 30...
VF-30 S-24 cents still show a flat spot on the cheek. The major mass of hair behind the cheek is now clearly separated by a deep valley. The central reverse in this example shows full detail. There may is a hint of mint luster.
Extremely Fine 45...
This superb S-24 cent is listed by its owner as AU-50. It is Noyes' coin number 29376 and is listed in his census as XF-45 choice. This cent has no flat spot on the cheek. The only apparent wear is on the very highest points of the hair. This example is a fairly early die state and it shows full strong reverse details.
Last Updated on 03/22/2002
By USCents.com
Good 4...
The good 4 Sheldon 24 cent will have loads of detail on the bust and a full date and LIBERTY with only the tops of the letters in liberty and the bottoms of the date worn into the rim. The top of the hair will be merged with the forhead. The hair behind the hair cord will show no separation. Most of the letters will show on the reverse but a few may be worn away. This example shows the central reverse gone due to die buckling.
Very Good 10...
This coin has Fine 12 sharpness but has some light obverse porosity which results in a net grade of VG-10. The date and liberty are clearly separated from the rim. There is a clear separation of the top of the hair and the forhead. The hair behind the hair cord will show some separation. The dentils on the rim will show just about all the way around the coin. The large mass of hair behind the cheeck is worn smooth. The central reverse will show some of ONE CENT.
Fine 15...
This lovely example of S-24 was cataloged in a recent sale as Fine 12. Two 1794 collectors who examined it called it VF-20. I have chosen to post it as Fine 15. It shows a tad more sharpness than the previous example. The large mass of hair behind the cheek shows some separation. There is a touch more detail in the central reverse on this example when compared to the Fine -12 sharpness coin.
Very Fine 25...
This VF-25 S-24 shows good separation of the hair behind the hair cord and the major mass of hair is now clearly separated into two sections. The cap on the pole which is worn flat in lower grade examples shows waves in the cloth. On the reverse the ribbon bow shows at the top but ONE CENT is still not complete in this example.
Very Fine 30...
VF-30 S-24 cents still show a flat spot on the cheek. The major mass of hair behind the cheek is now clearly separated by a deep valley. The central reverse in this example shows full detail. There may is a hint of mint luster.
Extremely Fine 45...
This superb S-24 cent is listed by its owner as AU-50. It is Noyes' coin number 29376 and is listed in his census as XF-45 choice. This cent has no flat spot on the cheek. The only apparent wear is on the very highest points of the hair. This example is a fairly early die state and it shows full strong reverse details.