1799/8 Large Cent - 1799/8 1C PCGS VG10. S-188, R4. This rare 1799/8 Large Cent is a mixture of olive brown and chocolate with the latter being more prominent on the devices of both sides. The surfaces of this 1799/8 Large Cent have microscopic roughness; however, they are superior to those normally encountered for the date. There are a few minor marks on the surfaces, but they are completely consistent with the grade. This 1799/8 Large Cent coin has good eye appeal because of its strong date, remaining details, and pleasing color.
 
The S-188 die variety has the 1799/8 overdate obverse, which it shares with the prohibitively rare NC-1. The S-188 is identified by the second 9 being cut over an 8. The knob of the 9 is connected to the upper part of the figure. LIBERTY is evenly spaced except for the letters IB which are close to each other. The word LIBERTY is far to the left. The reverse, which was also used in 1798 and is known as Reverse GG, has the third outside and inside pairs of leaves on the right stemless and disconnected from the wreath. The inside pair of leaves under the T in UNITED is distant from the wreath. The outside pair overlaps the stem and covers it. The first berry on the left has a long stem and the second one a short stem.
 
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 design was based on a drawing by Gilbert Stuart that was first used on some silver dollars of 1795 and later used on half-cents of 1800 to 1808. 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.
 
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.
 
Thomas Jefferson chose 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.
 
The 1799/8 Large Cent has a Rarity rating of 4 meaning that 76 to 200 are known in all grades. In its population report, PCGS shows 5 in VG10 with 13 better.