Why collect 1794 Large Cents?
by Dan Rice
February 23, 2025

I'd like to make a case as to why each of you should consider collecting 1794 large cents. That isn't to say that you should ONLY collect 1794s (although that is the focus of my own collecting), rather, I want to make the case that 1794s are unique within the large cent series, particularly diverse in their design between varieties (adding to collecting enjoyment), and affordable when compared to other early date large cents.

1793 was the first year of the large cent, and includes the Chain, Wreath, and Liberty Cap design large cents. These coins are wonderful, but very expensive across the series, particularly so among the Liberty Cap varieties. Luckily for us, the Liberty Cap design carried through to 1794 - and they are plentiful, as the Mint struck almost a million of them!

1794s are unique between varieties - often dramatically so. The obverse dies are the easiest to appreciate when it comes to looking at this variation. 1794 has three distinct head styles, heads of 93, 94, and 95. The hair is unique between each obverse design - for example, no two Head of 94 varieties have hair which looks the same - thickness, how the hair lays, the termination of the hair locks, etc. The hair details, the direction Liberty is looking, some of the small facial details vary significantly. You really need to view the varieties side by side, in tandem, to appreciate just how significant these details do vary.

And let's not forget the third side! All 1794s have lettered edge thick planchets, of two different styles (edge of 1793 and 1794, with the leaf orientation after DOLLAR being determinative), many of which display errors! You will see doubled letters or words, repeated letters or words, generally referred to as "blundered edge letters."

You'll get to "know" and recognize each obverse depiction of Liberty. The more you study the varieties, the easier they are to tell apart. You'll get there, just like you can tell your wife Jamie apart from her sister Julie. Sure - they really do look similar, but definitely not the same - and learning to tell them apart will keep you out of a lot of trouble. In real life, and also in collecting.

I've cherry-picked R5 coins at R1 pricing, just by knowing at a glance "I recognize her! Short bust, almost masculine jaw line, closed wreath reverse, that's a S-51!"

I've also messed up some attributions and overpaid for a variety thinking it was a rarity when it was not, so don't get too confident, at least early on. Always consult your resources.

To collect 1794s is to learn to attribute the varieties. You will need good resources, with photos, to do good attribution work. I like the Powers attribution guide for 1794s. I also like Noyes' 1793-94 book, which has tons of color photos.

And then you can get into die states! Chuck Heck's book is a wonderful resource there.

You can also collect by pedigree! I enjoy knowing the names of the great collectors who have previously curated and admired my 1794 cents.

I've included a photo of a few of my 1794s, my finest, and some of my least expensive examples:

Starting with the leftmost coin, well, that is a lovely high condition census S-69 - and full disclosure, I inherited it. This quality of 1794 is not exactly a "budget" coin, worth somewhere in the low 5 figures, about as much as a decent used car. Do you like die breaks? Check out that advanced die state S-32, reverse up. A few hundred bucks, and a spectacular die break, rarely seen in later date large cents - but very common among 1794 varieties. If you want to see a spectacular die break, look up a S-68. The center coin, a S-58, is my first 1794. I won it on eBay for $320.

If you want a very nice high grade VF common variety of 1794, they can be had for a couple to a few thousand dollars - a significant investment, but not entirely unaffordable. I've got several beautiful Fine to Very Fine coins with amazing provenance which were in that $1000 - $3,000 range. That said, entry level coins with some acceptable problems (damage, rough surfaces, etc.), that are still nice enough to appreciate, can be found readily for a few hundred dollars.

In short: Is 1794 collecting a niche within large cent collecting that is available to virtually every collector? I say "yes."

If you're an EAC member, and into 1794s, there is a subgroup of collectors known as the Boyz of 94. Membership to the Boyz/Girlz of 94 is instant. All you have to do is be a member of EAC, and have an interest in 1794s, and poof - you're in. You don't even have to own a 1794 necessarily.

In parting, take a look through the second photo which accompanies this little write-up, being the 38 collectible obverses (among the 58 collectible varieties) of 1794 large cents. The coins photographed are all from the Al Boka collection. Compare some of the earliest and latest depictions of Liberty, and then compare some of the examples adjacent to each other. Can you see the difference between the Heads of 93, 94, and 95? Do you have a favorite? I do - but my favorite obverse changes often. Today, probably the S-17. S-62 is another that I enjoy. The Shielded Hair obverse (S-64/65) is a winner. And S-68, with the bisecting die break... I could go on.

Best of luck in your collecting journey - and be sure to consider adding a 1794, or a few, to your early copper collection.

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