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

1849

Half Cent. "Small date (apparently from the logotype used for half dimes and gold dollars, but much more heavily punched into the die), Rev. Large berry die of 1840-48. First auction record: E. Cogan, Oct. 18, 1860, for a fantastic $22, to John F. McCoy, thence McCoy:793 to Col. Cohen. First publication in a numismatic journal: AJN, January 1871, p.59, by E(dward) M(aris), by implication in that he claimed to have seen all dates, 1840-49 small date, with both large and small berry reverses. Long controversial and long believed rarest of the proof-only half cents of the 1840's. Aside from two obvious underweight restrikes with high wire edges, there are possibly eight proofs and one damaged coin in collectors' hands, none in museums at present - not even in the Smithsonian. As none of the known specimens of this variety weighs correctly, the original status of all of them has been questioned; but the presence of this variety in the Stickney proof set seems to establish satisfactorily that at least some were actually made in 1849. The damaged piece was in the Henry Clay Miller and Hillyer Ryder collections, reappearing in the 1962 New York Metropolitan Convention sale, lot 241. Proofs: (1) Phila. Estate, 1958, probably ex Cass - "Empire": 117. (2) Mills-Clapp-Eliasberg. (3) "Dupont": 1147, to H. 0.,83 grains. (4) F. C. C. Boyd - NN 51: 1221. (5) Holmes: 1344. (6) The former R. C. W. Brock, University of Pennsylvania, Dochkus coin. (7) Brobston, 86 grains. (8) N.Y. state private collection, probably same as one of the above. One of these, not too carefully handled, slept at $450 in the "Century" sale. Not impossibly a ninth original is around, even aside from that in the Stickney proof set if that set remains intact. (The Showers and Norweb pieces are the two restrikes.) Existence of a circulated specimen tends to confirm the view that these were made in 1849; restrikes were not spent.

- Large date, as on the half eagles and quarter dollars. Rev.: Small berries, not a die found on restrikes. Two known, a third reported: (1) The former "Suitcase Foster" piece, presumably ex Cleneay. (2) The writer's coin, dull, believed to be the former Mickley-Crosby example. (3) That from the H. P. Smith proof set, not now traced. One of these is in NERCG 12/76:108, possibly (1).

Cent. N-l. Curl point over inner r. curve of 8, tops of 1 and 4 about equally close to bust and curl, fine die file marks parallel neck line, others behind head; small die chip close below 13th star. Rev.: Die file marks through berry r. of T in CENT, and over UNITED. (1) ANS, exClapp, ex Henry Chapman, Jan. 1927, at $MA (=15: Clapp's code word was MENDACIOUS, his own private jape at B. Max Mehl). (2) Philadelphia Estate, ex Newcomb. (3) Elder, Oct. 17, 1908:433, to Hillyer Ryder, Wayte Raymond, NN 41:929, A. M. Kagin, Ronald Stolberg. (4) Norweb, ex Mougey: 255. (5) Lahrman: 451, claimed as this variety, not seen, possibly (3) above. The piece in Clarke: 354 ex Dr. French was not a proof.

- *N-18. High date slanting a little down to r., top of 1 almost touching bust, 84 farther from device; left end of truncation, both serifs of 1 and left edge of dentil all lined up. Rev. Same as 1844 B-8. (1) "Dupont":930, D. N. (2) "Dupont":931, W. C. Blaisdell. (3) C. David Pierce, T. James Clarke:357, Sloss, Lahrman:452. (4) Mougey:256, Beckwith: 109, Morgan: 368, B. Bax Mehl as "Andrew 1", T. James Clark, Calif. Specialist. (5) Newcomb II: 746, Phila. Estate. (6) J. G. MacAllister, 1942, Holmes: 1639. (7) F. C. C. Boyd, NN 51: 1267. (8) Ronald Stolberg, said to have been resold about 1964 to a dealer, probably (3) or one of the last two. One of the above was lately offered by a Hollywood firm at $3,995. There may be more than a dozen around in all. This is the least proof of the date, in any denomination.

Note: The N-5 claimed as proof, ex Downing, Sloss: 271 (base of date weak, top of date runs into device, die roughness around border near stars, prow-shaped patch of roughness r. of 9) is doubted. Downing did not list it as a proof in his private catalogue, and the coin's photograph shows beveled, rounded rims and weak dentilations.

Half Dime. V-8. Low date, no noticeable recutting. (1) Valentine, unseen, not even illustrated in his book. (2) Boyd, WGC:244, Adolph Friedman, 1946 ANA:69. (3) Menjou: 119, same as preceding? Two others seen in middle 1950's.

- *Not in V. Low date, shield point minutely left of upright of 1, left base of (recut) lover left edge of dentil, skirt pendant almost over r. upright of 4; part of crossbar of 4 and lower edge of loop of 9 repunched: date first punched lower and slanting slightly up, then corrected higher and level. Rev. H touches leaf. (1) Eliasberg, probably ex Clapp. (2) S. H. Chapman, 12/19/1919, Garrett: 107, opened at $1150, bid up to $3,500, to "R.M.X." (3) T. K. Harvin, Wolfson:466, is apparently this variety. One of the above is believed ex H. P. Smith: 1035.