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

Cent. *"B-23", not in Newcomb; obv. B-8, rev. new. Curl point above extreme r. side of 8, end of truncation in line with left upright of 1, which nearly touches bust; left base of 1 well away from left edge of dentil; defects within openings of B. Rev. Faint striae point southeast; doubling on S OF and some other letters. (1) Crawford:530 (Steigerwalt, 7/1894), Ryder, Wayte Raymond, NN 41 :935, Kagin. (2) "Dupont":964, as N-8. (3) Norweb. (4) Sawicki: 733, Phila. Estate. (5) French, Clarke:381, Sloss:305, TAD:175as "MS-70+," questioned. (6) Bement:401, Beckwith: 112,Morgan: 378, B. Max Mehl personal coll. as "A-5", T. James Clarke:376. (7) The writer's former example, 1975EAC :975, subsequently cleaned by purchaser obscuring itsproof surface. Others are reported.

- N-12. Curl point midway between 85; double punching on 18; tops of 85 touch device. Known only from Homer K. Downing's private listing; Walter F. Webb offered him a proof of this variety, July 1941. It has not been since traced; that in Sawicki: 735 has been doubted (same piece?).

- "'Not in N. "B-25". Obv. N-15, date distant from device, minute crescent-shape dot (convex upwards) on neck close to jaw, two lines r. of Y. Rev. Die file marks over AMERIC, different from the regular N-15. (1) F. C. C. Boyd, NN 51:1290, TAD: 173. (2) W. F. Morgan:377, J. G. MacAllister, T. James Clarke:377, Phila. Estate. Morgan had this and the variety called "B-23" above confused.

Trime. Heavy stars, strong date. ANS, ex Brock, Morgan proof set. No duplicate reported.

Half Dime. V-3. Date barely free of base, slanting down to r., heavy 1. Shield point above tip of serif of I, or minutely right; skirt pendant r. of central above top of 5; left base of 1 microscopically r. of left edge of dentil. Rev. Thin letters, but H touches leaf. (1) ANS, ex Brock, Morgan set. (2) O. H. Berg (Haseltine 5/23/1885):755A, Garrett: 111, $2000, Joe Flynn. (3) Dr. Daniel W. Valentine, exhibited by him at ANS 1914 and pictured on the plate of his book, not traced. (4) Newcomb's coin, in same exhibition, not since identified. (5) Brand, Lichtenfels II: 2880, B. M. Eubanks, O. K. Rumbel, NASC 2/73:690, QS 9/73:810, cleaned, Joe Flynn. (6) Bullowa, May 1952. (7) "Dupont": 1395 was probably this variety.

- V-4. Date high but level, not as high as preceding. Shield point and skirt pendant positioned about as lastbut left base of 1 almost over r. edge of dentil. SI, ex Mint, impaired.

Die identity of the following unknown: (1) Cleneay:1721. (2) Winsor: 784. (3) D. S. Wilson:817. (4) Menjou:121. (5) Ex W. 1. Carson. This may refer to a single coin, or to as many as three; possibly some are included among V-3 records above.

Dime. B-3. Shield point over left tip of serif of 1, skirt pendant well to r. of center of top of 5, left base of lover left edge of den til; rev. marked striae pointing southeast. (1) Eliasberg. (2) Parmelee: 1227, possibly same as next. (3) Woodin:593, Boyd, WGC:543, Adolph Friedman, 1946 ANA:273. (4) 1954 ANA sale. Compare also Cleneay: 1568, Winsor: 713, Menjou: 203.

Quarter. (1) In Winsor proof set, unlocated. (2) Reported by Wayte Raymond. I have seen none.

Half Dollar. Die variety data unknown to me. (1) In Winsor proof set, unlocated. (2) Newcomb 1:746, later untraced unless this is the former W. L. Carson specimen via Lester Merkin. (3) Paramount.

Silver Dollar. B-1. Only the one obv. for this year; date about centered, level. Rev. Rather similar to 1850 B-1 but uncracked; traces of doubling on cross let of E of UNITED. Shield filled with confused die file marks or roughness except for a small almost triangular sector in first (Leftmost) white stripe, where brilliant polish remains, claws and arrows all separate - different from the 1850-51 reverse. Very small rough or "unfinished" patch (where die was insufficiently polished) between pairs of leaves -less so than usual. This die also used on some business strikes. (1) Byron Reed estate, Omaha City Library. (2) "Dupont": 2529.

- "'B-2. Same obv. Rev. of 1840-49. ANS, ex Brock, Morgan set, no duplicate reported. This may even be an original striking, but decision is as yet impossible.

- *B-3. Same obv. Rev. Diagonal line slants down (west-northwest through east-southeast) through first five white stripes. Lichtenfels, Paramount 2/73, QS 9/73.
Over 90% of the proofs dated 1852 in this denomination are in fact restrikes with the rev. 'of 1858-59 in a late state. Collectors owning, or being offered, 1852 proof dollars, having some reverse not matching any of the above descriptions, are advised to look in Restrikes and Fantasy Pieces, below. All other 1852 proof dollars I have seen in recent years have had the 1858-59 reverse die save for those mentioned above and possibly Cass

- "Empire":1737 which 1 did not examine closely at the time. There are probably a few other originals around.