1792 Washington President Eagle Reverse - Lettered Edge Cent

Coin Details

Description

Cataloged as Baker 24, Musante GW-22, Whitman 10680, and PCGS #708, this 1792 Washington President cent combines the eagle reverse design with a lettered edge — the most complete expression of the proposed cent coinage, incorporating all three design surfaces: the Washington portrait obverse, the eagle reverse, and a meaningful edge inscription. Struck in copper, weighing 10 grams with a 28 mm diameter, the lettered edge required a separate edge-lettering collar or Castaing machine, adding significant manufacturing complexity and cost compared to the plain edge variant produced from the same obverse and reverse dies. The eagle reverse displays a heraldic eagle that anticipated the patriotic imagery eventually adopted for regular American coinage, while the WASHINGTON PRESIDENT obverse legend engaged the central design debate of 1792: presidential portraiture versus allegorical Liberty for the new nation's coins. Extremely rare, lettered edge cents are among the rarest configurations within the 1792 Washington President eagle reverse pattern series, as the additional step of edge lettering limited production volume beyond what was already a small experimental output. The lettered edge's text content adds documentary value to the piece, preserving an inscription that may carry denominational, patriotic, or motto information relevant to the proposed coinage system. This pattern documents the most technically ambitious version of the Washington cent proposal, demonstrating that its creators envisioned a fully finished coin with designed surfaces on all three planes.

Rarity Notes

Extremely rare. Lettered edge cents are among the rarest eagle reverse patterns.

Cross References

Baker 24; Musante GW-22; Whitman 10680