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

* - Same obv.; small berries. Dies 1-B, "first restrikes." Series I, early, average 81.8 grains. About 7 or 8 known, two damaged (JHU and Farouk).

* - Same dies, series II, thick flans, 87 grains. Four seen, pvt. colls.

1850 Silver Dollar. Restrike. "'B-2. Base of 0 repunched; light to heavy crack through base of date. Original rev., with the minute flaws on r. side of second A of AMERICA. Some from these dies are originals, but restrikes exist, with heavy crack, heavy knife-rims. (1) 1951 ANA:984, nicked on its kniferim. (2) T. James Clarke, NN 48:660, Kagin. (3) Pvt. coll. Cleneay:988-89 were not identified as to variety and status.

1851 Silver Dollar. "'Centered date. Restrikes only. Rev. of 1858-9 proofs in late state, the lines joining AM and RI faded out. Other reverses may exist. Silver, 15 to 20 known; early specimens normal, later ones with high knife-rims. Typical specimens: Sampson: 71 (June 5,1883), T. H. Garrett, J. W. Garrett:269, $6,750, Joe Flynn; Farouk, Dr. Clifford Smith, 1976 ANA: 1445, $7,500. There are also four or five copper proofs from the same dies.

* 1852 Half Cent. Large berries. Restrike, series VII. Long believed original, but the physical appearance (unnaturally high knife-rims, repolished dies) matches other Series VII restrikes, and the resurrection of an olddie discarded in 1849 would have been irrational in 1852 but very understandable in 1858 or '59 - once the smallberry die had been identified as a restrike by potential customers. (1) Mills, Clapp, Eliasberg. (2) George W.Rice, Dunham, Brobston, $7,500 as "original." (3)Brock, Univ. of Penna., "Piggy" Ward, C. J. Dochkus,R.L. Miles: 69, $6,000. (4) Alvord, F. C. C. Boyd,damaged (in a fire?). (5) James Aloysius Stack estate, unseen.

* - Similar, small berries, dies 1-B. "First restrike." Early, series I. Possibly 40 to 50 known. Three separate 1965 records of $625; only recently has begun to climb -TAD: 879, $1050, March 1975.

* - As last, thick, 87 grains, Series II. Two seen. * - As last, thin, advanced die state, Series III. (1) "Dupont": 1152. (2) Pvt. coll.

* - Similar, dies 1-C, "second restrike," thick flan, about 96 grains, Series V. (1) Johns Hopkins. (2) Ex Q. David Bowers, before 1966. (3) Byron Reed, Omaha City Library. (4) Norweb.

(5) Ex R. Schonwalter, before 1965. Two others in private collections.

1853 Silver Dollar. Obv. "Die file marks from rocky base above 53. Shield point slightly r. of upright of 1; left base of lover center of dentil. Rev. of 1862-3 (q.v.), now with upper edge of wing (left of beak) usually not brought up. Supposedly 12 struck. First reported in the McCoy sale, 1864. (1) E. E. Lamb, Geiss: 350, Phila. Estate. (2) Boyd, WGC: 146, "J. H. South": 814. (3) Ely: 122 (Jan. 1884), T. H. Garrett, J. W. Garrett: 271, $8,500, "X." (4) McPherson, Cass, "Empire": 1738, possibly same as (2). (5) NN 49: l375, $1,000. (6) Ostheimer, LM 9/68:350, possibly same as (2), (4) or (5), deeply toned. (7) Very slightly impaired, Parmelee: 1233, to Chapman, now unidentified.

Four or possibly five copper examples are reported, one in Woodside:57 (1892).

1856 Half Cent. Restrike. *Dies 1-B, double outlines on CENT and ribbon, as on coins dated 1840-49, 1852. Series I: over 10 known, though apparently original impressions are more often seen. The average weight of 81.8 grains rather than 84.0 is the main difference.

* - Same. Series II, weight average 87 grains. Four seen.

1856 Flying Eagle Cent. See Chapter XV above. If the variety therein called no. 8 in late states actually is a restrike, it must have been made by the hundred, possibly over 1,000 in all, as it constitutes the majority of survivors of this issue.

1857 Half Cent. Restrike. *Dies 1-B, double outlines on CENT and ribbon, as on coins dated 1840-49, 52, 56. Obv. repolished, date and stars strengthened. Series I. Degree of rarity unknown, normally sold as originals. Patterson DuBois, " Eavenson", Ryder: 341, J.W., others. Average 81.8 grains.

* - Same dies, series II, average 87+ grains. "Dupont": 1159, F .K.Saab, 91.5 grains; others. Same die state.

* 1858 Silver Dollar. Stuart Mosher and others claimed to have examined specimens with "high unnatural wire edges and rev. field depression near beak." Unconfirmed.

* 1859 Half dime, without UNITED STATES. Obv. similar to regular design with stars, date higher than on normal proofs, without recutting. Rev. type of 1860, but heavy letters unlike regular 1860 proof dies. Judd 232, A-W 309. Generally miscalled a transitional issue; actually a piece de caprice, probably an afterthought for collectors who wanted an earlier counterpart of the 1860 item. Possibly 15 known. (1) 1976 ANA: 649, $8,000. (2) "Dupont":1408, Miles:461, Dr. Caldwell:95, $5,750, 1975 ANA:182. (3) Lohr:276. (4) Cass, "Empire": 692; others.