Walter Breen's Encyclopedia of Early United States Cents

Obverse 15.

Reverse K. Differs from the standard pattern having a single outer leaf at OF, rather than the normal triple leaf. The leaf at ME leans out, pointing to M, and is close to its right base. Single berry left of the bow, as on two rare reverse. dies of 1794. Right ribbon end is pointed. Only 85 beads.

Die states. I. No obverse buckling, Reverse with a slight central bulge, not weakening letters, though CEN may not be brought up.

II. Reverse with a more pronounced central bulge, most of all at CE, which are weak and may not be legible. Later, all of ONE CENT is weak.

III. Obverse bulge develops behind the curls and below the cap. Reverse bulge extends through the wreath, eventually to the bases of UNITED STATES.

Equivalents: Frossard 11.2. Proskey 14. Doughty 13.

Crosby 12-K. McGirk 3A. Sheldon 12. EAC 21. Encyclopedia 1647.

Low Rarity 6.

Remarks: Discovered by William Fewsmith in October 1869.

Probably about 800 were struck.

This and variety 22 are often on streaky, mottled flans like the first of the 1794s, but unlike any preceding; apparently from part of the Ferdinand Gourdon copper, bought August 1, 1793. Usually 28.5-29 millimeters See "Oops!" chapter.

Condition Census:

VF-35 Wm. Fewsmith • Mason & Co. 10/1870: 796 $45• George M.Klein • W. Elliot Woodward #95, 5/1888: 2006 $82.50 • Sylvester S. Crosby • Henry Chapman • Dr. George P. French, 3/21/1929 • B. Max Mehl FPL, 1929: 14 $1,100 • Henry A. Sternberg, 11/1932 • George H. Clapp • ANS. State I. The Discovery coin. Reverse illustrated in The United States Coinage of 1793 by Sylvester S. Crosby (1897), in Early American Cents, and in Penny Whimsy. Obverse and reverse illustrated in Noyes.

VF-20 Virgil M. Brand • B. G. Johnson (St. Louis Stamp & Coin Co.), 8/1/1945 $170 • James Kelly • unknown • Hollinbeck Kagin Coin Co. • 1961 ANA (World Numismatiques, James Kelly): 1407 $2,400 • Hollinbeck Kagin Coin Co. • Federal Brand Enterprises 10/1961: 1480 • Hollinbeck Kagin Coin Co. • Hollinbeck Kagin Coin Co. #250 Part 1, 6/1963: 344 • Hollinbeck Kagin Coin Co .• Stack's 5/1979: 45 $11,500 • R. E. Naftzger, Jr., 2/23/1992 • Eric Streiner • Chris Victor-McCawley (CVM) • Dr. Robert J. Shalowitz • Chris Victor-McCawley (CVM), 9/ 1994 • Chris Kromer. State I.

VF-20 John Work Garrett • Johns Hopkins University, privately 3/1973 • John W. Adams, 3/7/1973 • Denis W. Loring, 3/1973 • R. E. Naftzger, Jr .• Early American Coppers 5/1990: 17 $35,000 • Daniel W. Holmes, Jr. State III.

F-12 James Kelly, privately 12/1952 • Dr. Charles L. Ruby, 12/1972 • Superior Stamp & Coin Co. • Superior Galleries 2/1974: 332 $1,950 • G. Lee Kuntz • Superior Galleries 10/1991: 15 $13,200 • Anthony Terranova • Stack's FPL, Summer 1993: 25 $15,500 • Stack's 10/1994: 10 $9,900. State I.

VG-10 Virgil M. Brand • New Netherlands Coin Co., privately • Dr. William H. Sheldon, 4/19/1972 • R. E. Naftzger, Jr. • New Netherlands Coin Co. 11/1973: 335 $1,200 • Robinson S. Brown, Jr. • Superior Galleries 9/1986: 18 $3,190 • James Neiswinter. State II.

VG-8 Sharpness of VF-30 but tooled, heavily burnished and recolored. Frederic W. Geiss • B. Max Mehl #109, 2/1947: 13 $160. Christian M. Petersen. Hollinbeck Coin Co., privately 12/21/1956 • Harold Bareford, 9/13/1985 • Herman Halpern • Stack's 3/1988: 14 $3,190 • John R. Frankenfield. State III.

VG-7 Dr. Charles L. Ruby, 12/1972 • Superior Stamp & Coin Co., privately 1974 • DenisW. Loring, 5/1974. Dr. Robert J. Shalowitz, 8/19/1974 • Philip Van Cleave • Kagin's Numismatic Auctions #340, 1/1986: 5014 $1,210 • Del Bland • James H. Mackie • Jack H. Beymer • Frank H. Stillinger. State II.

VG-7 With a line-like crack through the planchet. T. B. Bennell • Ed. Frossard #141, 10/1896: 392 $8.10 • Chas. Steigerwalt • Dr. Thomas Hall • J. F. Trowbridge • B. Max Mehl #75, 4/1927: 1120 $26.75 • George H. Clapp • ANS. State III. 177 grains.

VG-7 From a collection formed prior to 1950 • John M. Foreman, Sr. • Stack's 1/1993: 1078 $3,740 • Wes A. Rasmussen.