Calling all EAC members. INFO on 1794 Head types.

Insider2 · September 24, 2019 9:18AM

The Red Book divides the 1794 cents into Head of '93; Head of '94; and Head of '95. Unfortunately, the images in the Red Book and much of the info on the internet appears to be inadequate. Even the latest Large Cent reference seems to take this way of separating the '94's for granted.

One EAC member directed me to Walter Breen's Encyclopedia of Early U.S. Cents. There is a section on the '94's. It is divided into FIVE PARTS by Sheldon numbers that cross to nine other references:

1, Wright Heads (Heads of 1793)

First Scot Heads (no head type listed)
Second Scot Heads (no head type)
First Gardner Heads (no head type)
Second Gardner Head (Head of 1795)

My questions: Are #2, 3, and 4 all Head of 1794? Is there a break down of head types in another source?

Thanks in advance from a "Net-grading Hater."

Walkerguy21D · September 24, 2019 10:17AM

Are #2, 3, and 4 all Head of 1794?
I think so, as the 'Redbook' defines them, but not positive. I would've checked the Breen book myself, as you did.
I have some older references available, like the Lapp/Silberman tome, that I can check at home, but likely you'll get expert inputs prior to that.

Insider2 · September 24, 2019 10:28AM

@Walkerguy21D said:
Are #2, 3, and 4 all Head of 1794?
I think so, as the 'Redbook' defines them, but not positive. I would've checked the Breen book myself, as you did.
I have some older references available, like the Lapp/Silberman tome, that I can check at home, but likely you'll get expert inputs prior to that.

Thanks for you "thoughts." I hope the accomplished Large cent collectors respond for sure.

Walkerguy21D · September 24, 2019 10:48AM

LOL - yep - I only own four - '94 varieties.....A friend of mine had close to 40, and wasn't even on the radar as a serious collector of '94's.

1630Boston · September 24, 2019 11:18AM

Please do not 'shoot' me @Insider2 for posting about something I know little about, but I'm here to learn so I did some research and found this

1794 Liberty Cap Large Cents : All Varieties
Early Copper Penny

Designer - Engraver: Joseph Wright Metal Composition: 100% Copper
Diameter: 29 mm Mass / Weight: 13.48 grams

There are many varieties of the 1794 Liberty Cap Large Cent (Penny). Three of them deal with the design of the liberty head on the obverse of the coin. The first is the "head of 1793" design which features shorter hair and softer details. The "head of 1794" has longer hair with a distinct "hook" design on the bottommost lock of hair (except for the Sheldon S-44 variety). The "head of 1795" features a distinct circular curl of hair that curls up and around. The "Exact Head of 1795" features the liberty with long hair but no hook or curl on that bottommost lock of hair - the exact same design used on the 1795 large cents. The difference between the head of 1793 vs head of 1794 vs head of 1795 vs exact head of 1795 is depicted above in the example comparison image. Note that there are nearly 60 different sub-varieties within these 4 major classes!

more info here from USA coinbook https://www.usacoinbook.com/us-coins/1794-liberty-cap-large-cent-varieties.jpg

Insider2 · September 24, 2019 11:24AM

@1630Boston,

Thanks, that is one of the first things I copied off the net years ago. Color me stupid as I have found it is not very helpful to me as there is lots of overlap.

Again, I'm sure there are many EAC members who can look at a 1794 Cent graded G/VG and ID the head type in seconds. So far, the best attribution guide is Vol. 1 of the "new" book set by Noyes. There is a guide to the pattern of berries on the reverse. Unfortunately, the Head Types are not included for each Sheldon # after S-21. I'm hopeful that indicates the rest (except for the Head of '95's) are all Head of '94.

BillJones · September 24, 2019 11:56AM

Here’s the way I look at it as a type collector.

Head of ‘93 - Fairly low relief, lots of intricate, fine detail, usually not visible because almost all of them are worn. Probably a beautiful type, but almost unobtainable and certainly unaffordable for most collectors in high grade.

Head of ‘94 - Highest relief of the three types, beautiful hair detail on high grade specimens, most desirable of the three types from the esthetic point of view.

Head of ‘95 - Low relief, coarser hair detail, less artistic merit, least desirable of the three types from the esthetic point of view.

Insider2 · September 24, 2019 12:09PM

@BillJones said:
Here’s the way I look at it as a type collector.

Head of ‘93 - Fairly low relief, lots of intricate, fine detail, usually not visible because almost all of them are worn. Probably a beautiful type, but almost unobtainable and certainly unaffordable for most collectors in high grade.

Head of ‘94 - Highest relief of the three types, beautiful hair detail on high grade specimens, most desirable of the three types from the esthetic point of view.

Head of ‘95 - Low relief, coarser hair detail, less artistic merit, least desirable of the three types from the esthetic point of view.

THANKS,

I don't have any trouble with AU/MS coins. It is the AG-VG coins that are difficult.

topstuf · September 24, 2019 1:43PM

They should have called it "HAIR of 1794."

Insider2 · September 24, 2019 2:40PM

@topstuf said:
They should have called it "HAIR of 1794."

That would not help either as worn specimens have no hair detail or cheek detail. A hook on the curl is not enough.

burfle23 · September 24, 2019 5:13PM

According to Sheldon:
Head of '93: S-17 thru S-20
Head of '94: S-21 thru S-66
Head of '95: S-67 thru S-72 with the S-72 noted as the "exact head of '95".
A side note, the heads of '93 have the highest relief of all of the 1794's and in high grades do not stack well like their '93 cap counterparts.
Best, Jack

Insider2 · October 12, 2019 6:32AM

@burfle23 said:
According to Sheldon:
Head of '93: S-17 thru S-20
Head of '94: S-21 thru S-66
Head of '95: S-67 thru S-72 with the S-72 noted as the "exact head of '95".
A side note, the heads of '93 have the highest relief of all of the 1794's and in high grades do not stack well like their '93 cap counterparts.
Best, Jack

THANKS! at one time I tried to pull this info from his book and gave up!

cardinal · October 12, 2019 8:47AM

In connection with @1630Boston post above, here are enlargements of each of the Large Cent types of 1794:

1794 Head of 1793:

1794 Head of 1794:

1794 Head of 1795:

Insider2 · October 12, 2019 9:02AM

Thanks, but as I wrote, the images of these "heads" in the Redbook and other sources have not proved to be very helpful to me. I wish the Noyes volumes would have added the head type to each Sheldon # for the non-specialists. On second thought, anyone who bought that set is probably already a specialist!

cardinal · October 12, 2019 9:41AM

@Insider2 said:
Thanks, but as I wrote, the images of these "heads" in the Redbook and other sources have not proved to be very helpful to me. I wish the Noyes volumes would have added the head type to each Sheldon # for the non-specialists. On second thought, anyone who bought that set is probably already a specialist!

PCGSCoinFacts is free to the public, and at least one high resolution photo is provided for each of the Sheldon numbered varieties, and the 1794 large cents are categorized by head type.

Insider2 · October 12, 2019 10:03AM

My problem is that when I have a corroded 1794 cent in G-4/F-2 with a hook on the hair, it would be nice to be able to ID the head type in a short time.

Calling all EAC members. INFO on 1794 Head types.

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