2016-11-05 Sat

Almost 918,521 1794 large cents were issued using 39 obverse dies and 38 reverse dies. They feature double chins, ugly teeth, apple cheeks, trephined heads and stars, lots of stars etc.

Experts state that in those days, the dies were all cut by hand and the die cutter's personality was sometimes reflected on the new die. Collectors have given each of these varieties different names. Dr. Edward Maris’s book Varieties of the Copper Issues of the United States Mint in the Year 1794, has classified the coins based on these names.

“Double Chin” is the name given to the first 1794 Liberty Cap cent struck. The double chin obverse die was later struck with a reverse to produce a coin type with pointed teeth on the reverse, which is named as “Ugly Teeth.” One variant had the Liberty look like apple stuffed in her mouth, which is known as “Apple Cheek”. The Trephined Head variety has a hole at the back of Liberty’s head. The Starred Reverse cent has 94 tiny five-pointed stars placed between the dentils. Only 50 such coins exist today.