Flowing Hair Wreath Cent, 1793: History and Design

The Wreath cent replaced the Chain cent in 1793, becoming the second major design used on the young federal one-cent coin within a matter of months. Both types share a right-facing Liberty with flowing hair, but the Wreath cent is far more than a new reverse: Liberty’s portrait was redrawn, the obverse composition softened, and the reverse reorganized around a botanical wreath rather than interlocking links.

GetCoinHunt helps you search inventory from multiple coin dealers in one place if you’re building a type set of early American copper, compare available examples of this transitional 1793 design, and create a wishlist alert when the right coin is not currently listed.

Design and history

PCGS attributes the Wreath cent’s design to Henry Voigt, as with the Chain cent that preceded it. As chief coiner, Voigt was deeply involved in translating the Mint’s early artistic concepts into working dies, and the appropriately qualified “attributed to” reflects that documentation from the first Philadelphia Mint does not always provide a complete design record by modern standards.

Liberty faces right on the obverse, her hair long and windswept, but the portrait differs noticeably from the Chain cent — a small three-leaf sprig appears behind the bust, an easy identification point unique to this type. LIBERTY is above and 1793 below. The reverse places ONE CENT and the fraction 1/100 inside a wreath, with UNITED STATES OF AMERICA encircling it and a decorative bow joining the wreath at the bottom.

Edge treatment varies more on the Wreath cent than on its predecessor. PCGS documents both a bars-and-vines edge, matching the Chain cent, and a lettered edge reading ONE HUNDRED FOR A DOLLAR — a direct, practical explanation of the cent’s relationship to the dollar in a country still accustomed to a confusing mix of foreign and state currencies. All Wreath cents were struck in copper at Philadelphia, at a nominal weight of 13.48 grams and a diameter near 27 millimeters, the same physical standard used on the Chain cent. PCGS reports a total mintage of 63,353.

The Wreath cent’s reverse concept proved far more durable than the chain it replaced. Even as its foliage, proportions and internal lettering changed repeatedly over the following six decades, a wreath continued to frame the cent’s denomination all the way through the final Braided Hair cent of 1857. The Wreath cent itself, however, lasted only through the remainder of 1793 before giving way to the Liberty Cap design later that year.

Notable dates within this design

Every Wreath cent carries the date 1793. Within that single year, the primary collector distinctions are the edge variety — bars-and-vines versus the lettered ONE HUNDRED FOR A DOLLAR edge — and individual die combinations rather than separate dated issues. As with the Chain cent, none of these represent a different basic design.

1793 cents of every type are valuable, historically important, and have been targeted by counterfeiters and copyists for generations. PCGS is explicit that authenticating a Wreath cent requires more than checking weight; surface texture, edge lettering, die style and overall fabric all matter, and weight alone is not conclusive given how variable early planchets could be. Collectors wanting to understand general detection concepts before purchasing a high-value early cent can review GetCoinHunt’s documented counterfeit coins reference guide.

Collecting this design

As with all large cents of this era, grading follows a scale with direct roots in the series itself: the American Numismatic Association credits numismatist William Sheldon with originating the 1–70 point grading system through his research on large cents, a system later adapted as the standard numeric grading scale for all U.S. coins. Certification from PCGS or NGC is strongly recommended at this level of the market, both to confirm authenticity and to document edge type and condition consistently.

Porosity, dark or uneven color, and planchet imperfections are common on Wreath cents and reflect the hand-operated, resource-constrained production of the Mint’s first year rather than post-Mint damage. What affects value most is evidence of cleaning, harsh polishing, or recoloring intended to mask wear or corrosion — issues a certified holder will identify with a details designation rather than a numeric grade.

Suggested search terms and filters

• “1793 Wreath cent”
• “Wreath cent lettered edge” or “ONE HUNDRED FOR A DOLLAR edge”
• “Wreath cent bars and vines edge”
• Filter by grading service (PCGS, NGC)
• Filter by edge type where listed

Availability and pricing notes

The Wreath cent’s larger mintage compared with the Chain cent — 63,353 versus 36,103, per PCGS — makes it somewhat more available, though genuine examples remain scarce and expensive in every grade given the type’s single-year production and the low survival rate typical of freely circulated 18th-century copper. Lettered-edge examples and problem-free surfaces both carry premiums over typical circulated pieces.

GetCoinHunt does not guarantee that every listing is authentic, accurately graded, or fairly priced. Authentication, grading, pricing, and fulfillment remain the responsibility of the dealer or marketplace offering the coin.

How the GetCoinHunt wishlist alert works

1. Search for the coin. Enter “1793 Wreath Cent” — or a more specific term like “Wreath cent lettered edge” — to search participating dealer inventory.
2. Review the available matches. Compare listings by edge type, grade, certification, and asking price.
3. Add the search to your wishlist. If nothing currently listed fits your budget or condition target, save the search as a wishlist item.
4. Get notified about new matches. When new dealer inventory matching your wishlist appears, GetCoinHunt sends an alert so you can review it before it sells.
5. Verify before buying. Confirm certification, review the holder’s grade and any details designation, and check the seller’s return policy — especially important given the type’s value and counterfeiting history.

Frequently asked questions

How is the Wreath cent different from the Chain cent?

Both use a right-facing flowing-hair Liberty, but the Wreath cent’s portrait was redrawn with a small sprig behind the bust, and the reverse replaced the chain-link design with a botanical wreath around ONE CENT and 1/100.

What does the ONE HUNDRED FOR A DOLLAR edge mean?

It is a lettered edge variety used on some 1793 Wreath cents that explicitly states the coin’s relationship to the dollar, a useful clarification in an era when American commerce still mixed foreign coins and varied state currencies.

Was the Wreath cent struck in more than one year?

No. Like the Chain cent, every Wreath cent is dated 1793. It was replaced later that year by the Liberty Cap design, giving 1793 three distinct major cent types.

Which is scarcer, the bars-and-vines edge or the lettered edge?

Both edge varieties are recognized collector distinctions within the Wreath cent type, and availability varies by die combination; a knowledgeable dealer or grading service certification is the most reliable way to confirm which edge variety a specific coin carries.

What came after the Wreath cent?

The Liberty Cap cent replaced the Wreath design later in 1793 and continued, with changing specifications, through 1796.

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