Walter Breen's Encyclopedia of Early United States Cents

Obverse 11. Reground to remove clash marks with some curl points severed. Large hollow area in the hair between the third and fourth curls, above 17. The dots at LI are less noticeable.

Reverse J. Flaw at the left side of O(F), hook or claw shaped, at first small and faint. Wedge shaped die flaw crosses the stem above the double leaf above (N)E. Points of the triple leaf are in a straight line, which would bisect the right "upright" of O(F). Five berries left and six right. Longfraction bar with a spine extending from each end. Small die defect slants up from the top of r(CA) towards a dentil. ER lean to the right. 0 and c are below adjacent Nand E.

Die states: 1. No breaks or clash marks, only the flaw at 0, which becomes longer and more pronounced. Extremely rare.

II, Cracked from the rim through as) into field, later to a leaf. One set of clash marks is visible in the wreath. A die scratch slants down through (ON)E to the right top of (N)T.

III. A second set of clash marks, differently oriented (die rotated) with poles at 0 and F, truncation at S 0, and hair between ON and CE.

IV. Chip above I(CA).

V. Cracked from the rim through S(T) to the wreath only. This and later die states form. the majority of survivors.

VI. At least six sets of clash marks, notably from the forelock, between the fraction and UN. One of the dies must have been loose, as these clash marks were inflicted at different angles. Incuse marks at rim between F A and above CA, possibly from foreign matter on the die. Chip or rust pit between s o.

VII. The crack of state V extends to C(E); a severe die failure appears at CE and another develops above the final A.

VIII. All cracks are heavier; later still, extreme central failure obliterates most of ONE CENT.

Equivalents: Maris 15, "Separated Date." Frossard 10.1. Doughty 35. Hays 21. McGirk 1A. Ross 14-N. Chapman 18. Sheldon 26. EAC 11. Encyclopedia 1658.

Rarity 2.

Remarks: Proskey called this variety "Severed Hairs."

Probably formed the majority of the 24,000 of March 26.

An example with the edge blundered (leaf) ONEHUNDDRED FOR A DOLLAORLAR and another leaf overlapping the final LA is in the collection of Dan Trollan. (Letter to Mark Borckardt, April 28, 1997.)

Condition Census:

MS-61 George F. Seavey • William H. Strobridge, 1873: 221 • Lorin G. Parmelee. New York Coin & Stamp Co. 6/1890: 686 $21 • J. F. Anger • John G. Mills • S. H. & H. Chapman 4/1904: 1238 $36 • George H. Earle, Jr. • Henry Chapman 6/1912: 3376 $48 • John H. Clapp, 2/ 6/1942 • Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. • Bowers and Merena 5/1996: 492 $34,100 • Anthony Terranova. State VII.

MS-61 Found at an upstate New York convention, circa 1959, by Richard Picker • C. Douglas Smith • Louis Helfenstein. Lester Merkin 8/1964: 4 $3,000 • Dr. James McCleery • Kevin Lipton Rare Coins • Anthony Terranova • R. E. Naftzger, Jr., 2/23/1992 • Eric Streiner • Jay Parrino (The Mint).