1799 Large Cent - 1799 1C PCGS VF30. S-189. This rare, nicely toned 1799 Draped Bust Large Cent has chocolate brown devices over darker brown fields. The colors attest to the coins originality. The grade is confirmed by the presence of some detail in the hair above Libertys forehead and to the left of her eye. The folds of her drapery are strong. On the reverse the leaves of the wreath show significant detail. The surfaces are hard and wonderfully clean for the grade with no abrasions or other distractions of importance.

The coin is identified as Sheldon 189. The S-189 is a regular date. LIBERTY is evenly and closely spaced in its usual position. The second 9 is a little higher and heavier than the first. On the reverse, the E in UNITED and the F in OF are heavily recut at the crossbars. There is also a die chip between the E in ONE and the T in CENT. This variety has an R2+ rarity rating.

The coin designed by Robert Scot, shows Liberty in profile facing right. Her hair is tied with a ribbon in the back but most of it falls to her shoulder with a curl below the truncation. Each strand of hair ends in a curl. LIBERTY is above and the date is below. The reverse shows an open wreath of laurel tied with a bow. Within the wreath, on two lines, is the denomination, ONE CENT. The legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA surrounds the wreath at the periphery. At the bottom, between the ribbon ends is the fraction 1/100. Dentils are at the edge on both sides, and the coin has a plain edge.

The Drape Bust Cent was first struck in 1796. It was the second design type for the year. The design by Robert Scot was from a drawing by Gilbert Stuart that was first used in 1795 for a silver dollar. (In 1800 it was used on the half-cent.)  A portrait of Ann Bingham is the source of the design. John Eckstein translated this drawing to models for Engraver Scot. Evidently Eckstein made the models poorly, which might explain why Stuarts family refused to acknowledge his role in the coinage design.

Thomas Jefferson chose Robert Scot to be the first Chief Engraver of the United States Mint on November 23, 1793. Scot was born in 1744 in Edinburgh, Scotland or England. (Documentary evidence is lacking as to where he was born.)  He was trained as a watchmaker in England and learned engraving afterwards. He moved to the United States in 1777, where he worked as an engraver of plates, bills of exchange, and office scales. During the Revolution, he was an engraver of paper money. In 1780 he was made the State Engraver of Virginia. He moved to Philadelphia the next year. He was appointed Chief Engraver of the United States Mint on November 23, 1793 by David Rittenhouse, Mint Director. His salary in 1795 was 1,200 per year.

The Mint Director received only $800 dollars per year more. Scots ability to make dies was limited, and he was advanced in years with failing eyesight. His work was somewhat less than that done in Europe at the time, and Scot was criticized for its poor quality. He was responsible for designs of most of Americas first coins. These include the Flowing Hair and the Draped Bust motifs used on the early silver coins, and the gold quarter eagle, half eagle and eagle. Scot also designed the 1794-1797 half-cent, the 1800-1808 draped bust half-cent, and the Thomas Jefferson Indian Peace Medal. Scot died on November 1, 1823 and was succeeded by William Kneass as Chief Engraver.

All 1799 cents are rare and sought after by collectors and investors. They are especially prized by collectors of Large Cents because of the 1799 is the rarest date and key to the entire series to 1857. In its population report PCGS shows a mere 4 coins in VF30 with 5 better.