Walter Breen's Encyclopedia of United States and Colonial Proof Coins 1722-1989

- Overton 108 = B. 6-F, H-3, C-3. Close date, 182 large (same style 2 as last), 0 smaller; 82 close at tops, 5th star recut, 7th touching border, T-D too low. (1) "Empire" 1308 (C.A. Cass collection), ex S. H. Chapman, Allenburger:753, R.T. McPherson: 843. (2) T.J. Clarke: 1245, ex Deetz. Dies show traces of rust.

- Unattributed. Lichtenfels I: 2748, possibly ex Brand.

- Overton 106 = B. 5-E, H-4, C-4. Closely spaced date, flat based 2 without knob, line joins tops of ME, tiny group of rust pits below I in UNITED. Eliasberg collection, no duplicate reported. This reverse was reused on nonproofs of 1820, and on proofs and nonproofs of 1821; apparently the last variety of 1820 ..

Half Eagle. Type I: Square based 2, large letters.
Breen I-A, A-4, C-3. 13th star free of curl; D nearly touches denticles, being much lower than 5; top of E in STATES below T-S. Melish: 1945, to "J.W."; Bell II: 598 (1963) at $1100 may have been this variety; two others seen.

Type II: Curled curve-based 2, large letters. B. 3-C, A-6, C-1. Wide date with 18 closer, first T in STATES below S-A, 5 D . quite widely spaced. (1) WGC:368, ill. numbered 369; later "Memorable":318. This may have been H.P. Smith:208, numbered 210 on the plate. (2) Melish: 1942 to "J.W.". One is illustrated over G.H. Hall: 1892, evidently a Col. Green coin; possibly one of the two preceding. One other seen, some years ago.
Type III. Curled 2 as last, small letters. B. 4-D, A-5, not in C.Base of 8 below 1-2, arrow points to left curve of C and very close. (1) Melish: 1943, to a dealer. (2) Woodin, Newcomer, Green, Farouk. One other seen, some years ago.

Proof sets could have been made up both earlier and later in the year. The earlier ones would have contained the overdate or the N-6 cent, B. 2-B dime, B-1 quarter, Ov. 103or 108 half dollar, and a Type I or II half eagle. The later ones would have contained the N-13 or N-I0 cent, B. 7-H dime, B-2 quarter, Ov. 105 or 106 half dollar, and a Type II or III half eagle, It would not be impossible to assemble a set today; the stumbling blocks would be the lower denominations, not the higher. Occasion for manufacture or distribution of proof sets not recorded, but my own guess is that the earliest ones might have been made up for officials connected with celebrating Alabama's entry into the Union (Dec. 14, 1819), the later ones for Maine's admission in March 1820, or possibly for the bicentennial of the Mayflower landing and/or Pilgrim Fathers' initial settlement in Massachusetts.

1821

Cent. N-1. Close date, second 1 low; earliest die state, some traces of inner circle visible around obv. border near denticles, not found on production coins for circulation; reverse die perfect. Generallyconsidered to be of extreme rarity, but too many are around to sustain a rating of Rarity 7. (1) Smithsonian, from Mint coli., no. 1200 (these numbers are in the Comparette inventory of 1914), not too kindly handled. (2) French: 249 - T. James Clarke - Homer K. Downing -1952 ANA Convention sale, to Calif. Specialist. (3) Dr. Thomas Hall - V.M. Brand ~ Armin Brand - NN 12/58 (pvt. sale) - Helfenstein: 85 ($2100) -F. E. Knoble -LM 4/70:431. Traces of quadruple impressions at some stars, showing that four blows in a screw press were needed to bring up design to desired sharpness. (4) Atwater:58- Leonard Holland -G. Reale, light rim dent. (5) Newcomb II:542 - F. Starr -?? (6) V. Brand -T.L. Gaskill - Sloss:142 – Benedetti - ?? (7) Dr. Hall - V. Brand -Kagin 3/19/46 -Phila. Estate. Double impressions on stars, triple on leaves and letters. (8) J.P. Lyman -' Allenburger:777 -Lee G. Agnew:729a. (9) Mougey: 133 - Sleicher: 1573 ~. Beckwith: 59 ~ Pearl :.269 - H. Bareford. (10) C. Wurzbach - Kagm QM3:1610 (3/64) - Kagin 3/67. (11) Mougey:134, part red, possibly Bement:396, possibly (4) or (5) reappearing. (12) Frothingham - J.B. Wilson: 1055, bright red. At least five others reported; possibly the actual number distinguishable is between 12 and 20.

The other variety, N-2 (date wider, 8 low), in repolished state without line from rim to end of bust; is much rarer. (1) Calif. Specialist, ex Kagin 2/47:2320, possibly ex W.F. Morgan: 194, Standish Hall, C. David Pierce, ultimately Winsor:918. Three othersclaimed, unverified: Bareford coll.: Stack's 2/45; T.J. Clarke:180 ex G.J. Bauer, this last another instance of Clarke's wishful thinking.

Dime. Large date as in 1820. Only one seen:
Phila. Estate, ex Bluestone 6/25/46:919. Broad dentil at first star; final S much too high. Possibly ex Winsor: 672.

-Small date. Date far to left (final lout from under curl), first 1 high and distant, 8th star joins cap, zero too high. Breen 5-E = Clapp 6. Cleneay:1490; Cass - Empire: 750 - Phila. Estate; others, possibly as many as four in all.

Quarter. Browning 4. 7th star points to center of ribbon; small die defect joins olive leaf just left of lower berry with border. Without and with clash marks. Small 5. (1) WGC:78, probably to Adolph Friedman and 1946 ANA: 424. (2) One I saw in the mid 1950's. Cf. Reed Hawn:271 (3/77).

- B-3. Obv. as last, but struck afterwards as later business strikes come with this die cracked. Rev. Small rust pits between olive leaf and 2. Large 5. (1) David M. Bullowa, shown me March 18, 1952. (2) Eliasberg, ex Clapp. Others probably exist.

- B-5. Distant first 1, date low especially the 8, large 5, OF nearer STATES than AMERICA. (1) Eliasberg. (2) Wolfson:783 at $400. I have seen quite a number of others; possibly a dozen exist, several of them cleaned or showing signs of contact with other coins.

Half Dollar. Overton 102 = Beistle 1-A; identifiable by a small cluster of rust pits below NI in UNITED. Newcomer - Col. Green, probably the piece Beistle saw. I have seen three, one of them being the Cass, "Empire" coin, lot 1312, ex R.T. McPherson: 844, ex 1949 ANA sale. Others probably exist. Reverse is 1820 E, used for proofs and business strikes in both years. Cf. S. 3/72: 357-C.H. Patten- Dr. E. Yale Clarke:222. Unverified - Reed Hawn:58 at $1400.

- Overton 104 = Beistle 3-Ca. Golden I: 1150 (K.S.l/62), O.K. Rumbel, QS 9/73: 543, Beck 1: 1096, $1250. Doubted; UR illegible.

- Overton 107 = Beistle 6-G. Widest date of the year, placed high; 7th star points to top of cap. N.N. 50:587, ex Elder, March 1911, Hillyer Ryder, Wayte Raymond.

- Unattributed: Lichtenfels I: 2754.

Other varieties are claimed to exist but there is some doubt of all shown me. The same remark holds for all dates of half dollars through 1836. If the proof surface gives way to frost anywhere on the fields (the usual places are near eagle's head and below Ms. Liberty's chin), the piece is not a proof. If there is any doubt, it should not be sold as one.