1794
This year, the Neutrality Act, which forbid US citizens from serving in foreign armies, was passed. General Anthony Wayne broke Indian resistence in the Northwest Territory by defeating the Indians at Fallen Timbers. Claude Chappe, a French engineer, invented the semaphore and Erasmus Darwin, grandfather of Charles, postulated a theory of evolution. The use of powder on men's hair went out of fashion after 100 years.
Large cents and half cents were the only coins struck at the Mint until August, when surety bonds were posted for Mint coiners and coinage in silver and gold began. This resulted in much higher production figures. Mint records show 918,521 cents were delivered this year. Sixty-seven different varieties of large cents are known for this year (S-17 through S-72 and NC-1 through NC-11), the last two having been discovered in the last ten years. Two types of edge lettering were used on cents dated 1794, the type of 1793 with the leaf tip and stem pointing down and the type of 1794, with the tip and stem pointing up. Half cent mintage was 81,600. Nine different varieties are known for half cents of this year, C-1 through C-9. Half cents of 1794 come with two types of edge lettering, with large and small letters.
The National Numismatic Collection contains 5 half cents and 14 large cents from this year. The nicest coins are C-1a, C-4a, and S-18b. S-57 (1) is an interesting error.
Half Cents
Cents