1796 Reverse of 1794

The "Reverse of 1794" designation identifies 1796 Draped Bust cents struck with a reverse die originally prepared for the 1794 Liberty Cap series. The Mint routinely reused reverse dies across years and even across design types, pairing whatever usable reverse was available with the current obverse. The result is a Draped Bust obverse married to a reverse that predates the design by two years.

The distinguishing features of the 1794-style reverse involve the wreath construction, berry placement, and lettering position. Identifying the reverse type requires either a trained eye or a reference comparison. For most collectors, the attribution on a certified holder provides sufficient confirmation.

Among 1796 Draped Bust varieties, the Reverse of 1794 is collected as a distinct die marriage. Its scarcity relative to other 1796 reverses varies by Sheldon number, and specialists in early large cents track each die combination individually. For a general collector, the reverse type is a secondary concern after acquiring the date itself.