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

Quarter Eagle. Date larger than in former years, placed low; apparently from the punches used on the dime and quarter dollar. (1) Cased set ex Neil: 2292 (see below). (2) Amon Carter, Jr., ex his father's estate, ex WGC: 110. (3) "Memorable": 103, Kern: 32, in an eastern collection. This or preceding presumably from Woodin: 966, Newcomer, Col. Green. (4) Smithsonian, from Mint proof set.

Half Eagle. Date placed rather low and to left; 3 farther from border than 1, same punches as quarter eagle. (1) Cased set ex Neil:2292. (2) WGC:394 to Amon Carter to Amon Carter, Jr. (3) "Memorable" :343. This or preceding ex Woodin (ANS 1914 exhibit), Newcomer. One of these may have been traded out of the Mint's proof set over a century ago.

Eagle. Low heavy date, from the punches used on half dollar and silver dollar. (1) Cased set ex Neil: 2292. (2) WGC: 648 to Amon Carter to Amon Carter, Jr. (3) J. F. Bell, "Memorable": 546. This or preceding ex Woodin: 1207 ("almost unique"), Newcomer. (4) Ronnie Carr, gem, apparently ex Brand, KS 3/65:157. (5) Smithsonian, from Mint proof set. One of these is from Hebbeard:378 (H.P. Smith 4/25-6/1883).

Complete Proof Sets. (1) That in the Mint collection, now in the Smithsonian; some pieces now cleaned or impaired, the $5 missing (traded away). (2) Set in original case of issue, first seen in the Fernand David auction (Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 1930), then to Frank Stoddard, B. Max Mehl, W. W. Neil of Abilene, Kansas; Neil: 2292 at $1250, Amon Carter Sr., New York state private collection. I have seen the set exhibited, though notin a good light - not exactly ideal conditions for die variety checking - and a friend long since furnished me with photographs. The case is without inscription name though with gold trim on outer red morocco cover; plush lined,with ?-shaped clasp and two hinges. Top row, $10, 2 1/2, $5; middle row, 25¢, $1, 50¢; bottom row, cent, dime, halfdime, half cent. Mehl said he knew only one similar (cased) set. I am not certain whether this was another 1843 proof set in case of issue or the 1844 mentioned earlier (p. 24). These cased sets both contained the cards printed by Manly & Orr, Philadelphia, pricing the sets at $22.50 apiece, and described above.

1844

*Half Cent. Small date; only the one obv. Rev. Large berry die of 1840-43. About sixteen known, none of them being restrikes; four are in museums (Smithsonian, from Mint proof set; ANS; Johns Hopkins; Mass. Historical Society). Of the dozen in collectors' hands, three are worn or impaired (ct. Atwater: 167, Mayfield: 523 as 'AU', etc.). Brobston's, not the most brilliant known, was offered at $725, reappearing in "Century": 112 at $675. Philip M.Showers has one from Elder (1924), Ryder: 321, Wayte Raymond. "Dupont": 1137 went to D.N .. Gardner's reportedly brought $675. An eighth is in the cased set formerly owned by Dr. Judd; Holmes: 1339 is a ninth; and others have been playing Musical Chairs for years.

Cent. N-I. Curl point over inner r. curve of 8; base of 1 thin; faint horizontal scratches in die above and below outer berry opposite T of UNITED. Known only from the Newcomb book, apparently referring to a Hines coin not seen. Exceedingly rare, and it is strange that Newcomb did not know the other variety, to follow.

- *B-8. Curl point midway curves of 8. Naked-eye spine from end of bust. Closer examination shows this to be part of serif of a 1, and within bust is a curved relief line horizontally to right of this and directly above the top of 8. The marks are evidently parts of tops of erroneously placed 18 - placed about the digits' own height too far up. Rev. small die chip between denticles opposite ribbon end. Many more known of this; probably R-6, not R-7. (1) Smithsonian, from Mint proof set, catalogued as #1225 in Comparette (1914). (2) Ex Dr. Judd cased set. (3) Calif. Specialist, ex Allenburger: 1028. (4) Norweb, ex Mougey:236. (5) N.Y. State specialist. (6) "Dupont": 848, D.N., TAD:145. (7) Boyd, NN 51:1253, Dr. M. A. Rutenberg. (8) J. G. MacAllister, T. James Clarke: 328. (9) Mougey: 235, Beckwith: 102, Morgan: 342, Mehl as "A-6", T. James Clarke: 329. (10) Sloss :225, same as one of last two? (11) 1948 ANA Convention, O. T. Sghia, W. C. Blaisdell. (12) Barney Bluestone 1/15/1940, Phila. Estate. (13) Hillcrest II, well circulated. I have seen four others, one of them badly cleaned. Usually comes off center, border narrower at bottom obv.