1793 Chain Cent - 1793 Chain Cent, Periods, PCGS VF30. S-4, R3+.  This well struck 1793 Chain Cent is the period after date variety. Unlike most Chain cents, Libertys hair and the date are distinct. The reverse of this 1793 Chain Cent is sharper than the obverse, which is typical for the type. All of the letters in the legends are bold and clear. The chain is so bold that it pops off the coin. The surfaces show microscopic porosity, more so on the obverse. They are virtually free of abrasion marks or other distractions with just one tiny tick in the center below Libertys ear, mentioned for the sake of accuracy. The surfaces are original with no tooling or burnishing, which is often found on coins of this era.

On the S-4 variety, both LIBERTY and the date are followed by a period. Both are also closely spaced. On the reverse the word AMERICA is spelled out. The fraction bar is distant from the denominator compared to the numerator and high.

Henry Voigt designed the Flowing Hair, Chain cent. The obverse shows a profile of Liberty looking to the left. Her hair is untied, hence the designation Flowing Hair. LIBERTY is above the portrait and the date is below. Contemporary critics said that Miss Liberty appeared to be in a fright. The reverse shows a fifteen-links chain motif, intended to represent the unity of the Union, with each link representing a state at the time. Within the chain is the denomination ONE CENT on two lines with the fraction 1/100 below. The legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA is at the periphery. The rims are raised on both sides, and there are no beads or dentils. The edge is designed with a Vine-and-Bars pattern.

Henry Voigt was the first Chief Coiner for the Mint. His permanent commission was signed by President Washington on January 29, 1793, and he remained in his position until his death in 1814. Voigt was born in Pennsylvania in 1738. During the Seven Years War of 1756 to 1763, his family moved to Saxony Germany, their homeland. When the war was over, he took a position at the Royal Mint of Saxony where he learned how to use all of the machinery and how to make every part himself. He even made improvements to the minting machinery during his time there. He was an ideal candidate to work at the first United States Mint. When he returned to America, he worked as a clockmaker in Philadelphia and became an assistant to David Rittenhouse, a well known watch and clock maker.

In 1771 he assisted Rittenhouse in the construction of an orrery, a mechanical device that illustrates the relative positions and motions of the planets and moons in the Solar System. The first orrery was made in 1704 and presented to the Earl of Orrery, from whom the device received its name. They are usually driven by a clock work mechanism. When the Revolutionary War broke out, Voigt helped manufacturer gears, guns, and gunlocks for the Continental Army. In 1780 he manufactured wire in Reading, Pennsylvania, and, with his brother Sebastian, once again became a clockmaker.

In 1787 he developed a steam engine to power a boat, and he and his brother manufactured steam engines. Both applied for work at the new Mint. Voigt gained the position probably because of his previous association with David Rittenhouse. He became Chief Coiner and Superintendent, the second person in charge. He oversaw the construction of the buildings and the installation of the equipment. In addition to contemporary criticism, as noted above, the Chain cent is recognized as a work done by an amateur. Vermeule notes that the men who designed Americas first coins were from backgrounds, as diverse as those of the Revolutionary patriots themselves. It was not until the arrival of Barber and Morgan that the Mint was fully staffed by trained die engravers.

The early Mint in Philadelphia had many challenges. Each of the specialists, the designers, engravers, and press operators were men who had previously worked in other fields. Coin manufacturing was a new trade for them. Production was sporadic. For the new Mint to coin each of the mandated denominations, it took four years. This delay was partly because of inexperience and governmental obstacles. Bonds that were unrealistically high were impediments to engravers working with precious metals. Congress was not united on the need for a government mint since private and foreign coinage seemed to work. Because of the non-existent or low production numbers in the early years of the Mint, foreign copper, silver and gold circulated along with American made coins for many years until they were later demonetized.

Record keeping in the Mints early years was fairly inaccurate. At the end of the eighteenth century Philadelphia had recovered from the British occupation and Revolutionary War. It was the second largest city in the English-speaking world, but it could do nothing to protect its citizens from the mosquito-borne epidemic of yellow fever. Its wealthy citizens went to the countryside to escape, and the poor grimly waited their fate. Of course these annual epidemics caused havoc with all manufacturing that required continuity, such as a coinage sequence. In addition to yellow fever, chaos at the Mint was also caused by chronic bullion shortages, coin dies that would wear out and had to be re-engraved because they were not taken out of production until they failed completely, and a Chief Engraver, Robert Scot, who was in his seventies and had failing eyesight.

The 1793 S-4 cent has an R3+ rarity rating. In its population report, PCGS shows 8 in VF30 with 14 better. At NGC there is 1 in VF with 4 better. These numbers do not account for crossovers or resubmissions.