Walter Breen's Encyclopedia of Early United States Cents

Obverse 8. Straight bulge from the rim to chin; usually also from the rim about 8:00 to the fifth lock, similar to 1793 number 7. Seven protruding locks with heavy single points, the third, fifth, and seventh longest. Clear shoulder loop. 7 leans right. E above B-R and nearer to R.

Reverse E. Single leaf at (R)I. Right wreath is completely disconnected from the knot; the right ribbon between the knot and bow is thin. Berries apparently five left and six right, though Sheldon describes the junction of stems of top leaves in the left branch as a sixth. Innermost leaf of the triplet at OF is incomplete, the outer leaf edgewise. The inner leaf right of (N)T is incomplete. I(T), C(A), (N)E, and (N)T are each low with C practically touching A. Repunching on UNI, D, and (N)T.

Die states: I. Very faint buckle from the rim to chin with no cracks.

II. The buckling is plainer; another buckle extends from the rim to third lock from the top. From D to the right extends a faint line, possibly a clash mark from a grossly misplaced cap.

III. Crack from the rim nearly to hair.

IV. Crack starting along the buckle between the chin and rim.

Equivalents: Maris 41, ''Egeria.'' Frossard 28. Doughty 61. Hays 25. McGirk 3D. Ross 16-P. Chapman 19. Sheldon 27. EAC 12. Encyclopedia 1659.

Rarity 5.

Remarks: Usually found in low grades.

Discovered by Dr. Edward Maris, late 1869 or early 1870. The original Egeria was a wood nymph, legendary teacher and wife of the equally legendary Numa Pompilius, second King of Rome. What Maris intended by giving the variety her name is uncertain: legendary? elusive? allusion to some painting or statue? Probably comprised about 1,000 among the 8,000 delivered March 5.

Condition Census:

AU-50 Purchased in 8/1891 from F. W. Lincoln (W. S. Lincoln & Son, London) by Benjamin H. Collins • W. W. Hays, 11/8/1892 • Dr. Thomas Hall, 9/7/1909 • Virgil M. Brand • Carl Wurtzbach, 11 /1941 • George H. Clapp • ANS • Dr. William H. Sheldon. Obverse illustrated in Early American Cents, in Penny Whimsy, and in Morley. Obverse and reverse illustrated in Noyes.

EF-40 From England in 1970 to Lester Merkin, 3/1970 • R. E. Naftzger, Jr. • New Netherlands Coin Co. 11/1973: 350 $3,200 • John W. Adams, 1/1975 • Denis W. Loring, 5/7/1983 • Jack H. Robinson • Superior Galleries 1/1989: 44 $16,500 • Dr. Allen Bennett, 1/20/1998 • Walter Husak. Obverse illustrated in Morley.

VF-35 Sharpness of EF-45 but repaired area opposite face. Dr. Edward Maris • W. W. Hays, 1900 • Chas. Steiger-walt, 1906 • Charles G. Zug • Lyman H. Low 3/1907: 25 $21 • E. Gilbert • Thomas L. Elder #44, 10/1910: 25 $75 • H. O. Granberg • William H. Woodin • The United States Coin Co. 5/1915: 107 $165 • Henry C. Hines, 1944 • Homer K. Downing, 1948 • Dr. William H. Sheldon. ANS. State III. Obverse and reverse illustrated in Frossard Hays, in Elder-Gilbert, and in Chapman. Obverse illustrated in Morley.

VF-35 From a York (England) coin show to William P. Paul (American Heritage Minting) and New England Rare Coin Galleries • Jack H. Beymer, 11/6/1982. Del Bland, 3/25/1984 • George E. Ewing, Jr. • Frank H. Stillinger.

VF-35 With several line-like planchet defects on the right half of the obverse. From Europe • New England Rare Coin Galleries, 10/1982 • H. Lee Martens • Early American Coppers 3/1987: 93 $3,800 • Anthony Terranova • Herman Halpern • Stack's 3/1988: 36 $3,740 • Anthony Terranova • Daniel W. Holmes, Jr.

VF-25 Sharpness of VF-35 but light burnishing. Purchased unattributed, circa 1972, by Dr. Donald B. Moore.