One of the Most Sought-After Early U.S. Coppers – Values to $250,000

1795 Liberty Cap Large Cent (Reeded Edge): A Premier Early American Rarity

The 1795 Liberty Cap Large Cent with reeded edge stands as one of the most important early American coins, with specimens bringing 15,000to15,000to250,000+ at auction. This transitional issue represents a fascinating chapter in U.S. Mint history.

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Historical Significance

Mint Context:

• Final Year of the Liberty Cap design (1793-1795)
• Transitional Feature: Experimental reeded edge (normally plain)
• Low Survival Rate: Estimated 100-150 specimens exist across all varieties
• Mintage: Approximately 37,000 struck (reeded edge portion unknown)

Production Challenges:

• Hand-engraved dies showing significant variations
• Crude planchets from inconsistent copper supplies
• Early edge lettering experiments (some show partial letter remnants)

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Key Identification Features

Authentic Specimens Show:

• Weight: 13.48g (208 grains) ± 0.5g tolerance
• Diameter: 27-29mm (irregular due to hand-striking)
• Edge: Reeded (15-18 reeds, not uniform)
• Obverse: Flowing hair Liberty with cap on pole
• Reverse: Wreath with “ONE CENT” denomination

Major Varieties:

1. Sheldon-79: Lettered edge (extremely rare)
2. Sheldon-80: Reeded edge (more common variety)
3. Sheldon-81: Plain edge (most common)

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Condition Census & Value Guide

Grade	Description	Value Range
MS-65BN	Full red-brown luster	150,000−150,000−250,000
AU-55BN	Light wear on cap	50,000−50,000−80,000
EF-40BN	Moderate even wear	25,000−25,000−40,000
VF-20BN	Worn but details clear	15,000−15,000−22,000

Record Auction: $258,500 (PCGS MS-64BN, Heritage 2013)

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Authentication Essentials

Genuine vs. Counterfeit:

• Authentic Characteristics:
  • Porous copper surfaces (early planchet quality)
  • Slightly irregular alignment (hand-struck)
  • Edge reeding shows tooling marks
• Red Flags:
  • Perfectly round shape (should be slightly irregular)
  • Sharp, modern-looking details
  • Wrong weight (±0.5g tolerance)

Professional Verification:

• PCGS/NGC Certification Recommended
• Specific Gravity Test (should be ~8.92 g/cm³)
• Microscopic Examination for early die state markers

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Market Insights

Recent Sales Trends:

• 2022: VF-30 sold for $18,800 (Heritage)
• 2021: EF-45 realized $32,400 (Stack’s Bowers)
• 2019: AU-55 brought $57,600 (Legend Rare Coin Auctions)

Investment Potential:

• 10-Year Appreciation: 9-15% annually for certified examples
• Demand Drivers: Early copper specialists and colonial-era collectors

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Where to Buy/Sell

Top Marketplaces:

1. Heritage Auctions (for certified coins)
2. Early American Coppers (EAC) Shows (for specialist collectors)
3. PCGS CoinFacts Forum (for private treaty sales)

Collecting Tips:

• Focus on problem-free surfaces (early coppers often corroded)
• Prefer original color over cleaned examples
• Document provenance when available

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Discovery Potential

Possible sources for undiscovered specimens:

• New England estate inventories (early circulation area)
• European collections (where U.S. coins were exported)
• Old numismatic holdings (misattributed as common dates)

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For professional evaluation of early large cents:
📧 copper@pennyverse.info
Subject: “1795 REEDED CENT”

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