1793 1c Chain Cent PCGS VF30 Sheldon-1 AMERI. Reverse. This is the Sheldon-1, the coin designed and engraved by Henry Voight and produced by the first die pair for the first coin minted for circulation by the U.S. Mint.
According to Gordon Wrubel, chain cents were the first mass produced, regular issue coins stuck at the US Mint. The first Chain cents struck are considered to be the AMERI. variety, Sheldon 1. On the first working die, the engraver failed to allow adequate room for the entire inscription, and it had to be abbreviated to “UNITED STATES OF AMERI.” These early dies were cut by hand, rather than being made from master hubs as is the practice today. The edge of these coins is decorated with bars and vines with leaves.
A total of 36,103 were coined from February 27 to March 12, 1793. Struck for about two weeks from late February until early March 1793, only about 1,000 coins are known to exist today.
The public reaction to the coins was largely unfavorable. One newspaper criticized the appearance of the Liberty head, saying that it appeared to be “in a fright”. And, while the reverse chain had been intended to symbolize the unity of the newly formed Union, many commentators instead interpreted it as representative of slavery. By March, the Mint had run out of planchets, which temporarily halted striking. During this time, a new design – the Wreath cent – was quickly prepared and approved.
