1795 Cent Pattern - J-20

Coin Details

Auction Record

$1,265,000 • VG10 PCGS • 09-2009 • Ira & Larry Goldberg (Dan Holmes Collection)

Description

Judd-20 is the legendary 1795 Reeded Edge large cent, cataloged as Sheldon 79 (S-79) and known as the "Holy Grail" of Sheldon-numbered large cents. It is the only large cent of any type or date to feature a reeded edge, a feature typically reserved for silver and gold coins to prevent clipping. The obverse displays the Liberty Cap design with Liberty facing right, wearing a cap on a pole, with LIBERTY above and the date 1795 below. The reverse shows the standard wreath design with ONE CENT and 1/100 within, and UNITED STATES OF AMERICA around the border. The reeded edge was an experiment to combat counterfeiting. Despite the 1795 date, numismatic evidence indicates these coins were actually struck well into 1796 or as late as 1797, as the Mint routinely used older dies until they wore out. With approximately 8-10 examples known from a single die pair, the S-79 reeded edge cent is the rarest of nearly 300 Sheldon-numbered varieties. In 2009, the finest known example became the first United States copper coin to sell for over one million dollars at auction.

Rarity Notes

Low R.7. Approximately 8-10 examples known from a single die pair (S-79, Breen-9).

Cross References

Pollock-29; Sheldon-79; Breen-9