Walter Breen's Encyclopedia of Early United States Cents

IV. Second obverse crack extends up along cap to the rim. Reverse crack through u is still heavier and extends to the back of C(E) and leaf left of O(N). The reverse is sometimes rotated.

V. Reverse crack forks with one branch going to the leaf above O(NE) and the left terminal leaf, another to A(T) and eventually to the adjacent T just above its base. On late strikings the u is distorted, its right arm closer to the rim and in a higher plane than the left although this may be hard to see because of developing die failure affecting N(r) and c(E).

Equivalents: Maris 22. Frossard 13.2. Doughty 43. Hays 34. McGirk 3G, 3G2. Ross 23-M. Chapman 35. Sheldon 43. EAC 30. Encyclopedia 1668.

High Rarity 2.

Remarks: Sheldon (Early American Cents and Penny Whimsy, p.107)
"explained" why his proposed emission sequence of S-41, 42, 43 (numbers 30, 29, 32) "knowingly violate(d) the probable order of issue" in terms of "some whimsicality at the Mint, whereby a marriage of dies was interrupted and later resumed." The real explanation is much simpler than that: the coiner's department had little time for whimsicalities, and much need for making dies last as long as possible. Better repair than replace, and while one die is out for repairs, another temporarily goes to press.

Fairly often found with a double profile, e.g. Ruby: 372. Dan Trollan reported an example with the edge blundered ONE HUNDREDA DOLLAR. (Letter to Mark Borckardt, April 28, 1997.)

This variety probably comprised the majority of the 32,000 delivered May 9.
Chapman' says blanks are 1/64" smaller on this and later varieties in his sequence. This is unconfirmed; diameters vary more than that in almost anyone variety.

Many of the best survivors have been recolored although no explanation has been found.

Condition Census:

MS-60 Richard B. Winsor • S. H. & H. Chapman 12/1895: 833 $18 • S. H. & H. Chapman • Col. James W. Ellsworth, 3/1923 • Wayte Raymond • Charles E. Clapp, Sr., 12/1924 • George H. Clapp. ANS • Dr. William H. Sheldon. Obverse illustrated in Penny Whimsy. Obverse and reverse illustrated in Noyes.

AU-55 Richard Picker, 1961 • Dorothy Paschal, 4/1973 • Gordon J. Wrubel, 8/1973 • C. Douglas Smith, 11/1973 • Del Bland, 5/13/1986 • Herman Halpem • Stack's 3/1988: 57 $5,225 • Jeffrey Oliphant. State I.

AU-50 Charles J. Dupont • Stack's 9/1954: 61 $140 • Harold Bareford, 9/13/1985 • Herman Halpern • Stack's 3/1988: 58 $5,500 • Jack H. Beymer.

AU-50 Peter Mougey • William H. Woodin • Thomas L. Elder #43, 9/1910: 10 $20 • Dr. George P. French, 3/21/1929 • B. Max Mehl FPL, 1929: 57 $115 • T. James Clarke, 1944 • B. Max Mehl B. Max Mehl #106, 6/1945: 1647 $41 • Milton A. Holmes • Stack's 10/1960: 1373 $300 • C. Douglas Smith • A. Kosoff, 12/1962 • R. E. Naftzger, Jr. • New Netherlands Coin Co. 11/1973: 364 $1,100 • Myles Z. Gerson • Jerry A. Bobbe • Jack H. Beymer • California Stamp Co. • David Griffith. Douglas F. Bird, 11/1/1995 • Thomas D. Reynolds.

AU-50 J. Chandler Roach • J. Colvin Randall. S. K. Harzfeld #15, 11/1880: 440 $18 • Ed. Frossard Collection • Ed. Frossard #37, 10/1884: 876 • T. Harrison Garrett • Robert Garrett, 1919 • John Work Garrett • Johns Hopkins University, privately 3/1973 • John W. Adams • Bowers and Ruddy Galleries FPL, 1982: 35 $3,750 • Bertram Cohen • George E. Ewing, Jr., 5/13/1990 • Daniel W. Holmes, Jr. State III.

AU-50 A. H. Baldwin & Sons, Ltd. (London) • New Netherlands Coin Co. #50, 12/1957: 938 $170 • Allen E. McDowell.

EF-45 Consignor with initial "M" • S. H. Chapman • S. H. Chapman 6/1913: 435 $20 • Hillyer Ryder, 5/1945 • Wayte Raymond, privately • Dr. William H. Sheldon • ANS. State II.

EF-45 Charles M. Williams • Numismatic Gallery #68, 11/1950: 45 $20 • Dr. Charles L. Ruby, 12/1972 • Superior Stamp & Coin Co. • Superior Galleries 2/1974: 372 $750 • Dr. Robert A. Schuman, 3/1976. Del Bland, 12/1981 • Donald H. Petersen • Superior Galleries 2/1992: 694 $4,620 • Tom Morley. 8/15/1992 • Eric Streiner • Chris Victor-McCawley (CVM). Obverse illustrated in Morley.

EF-45 Henry C. Hines • Homer K. Downing • 1952 ANA (New Netherlands Coin Co. #38): 1676 $45 • Franklin J. Herrick - Dr. Charles L. Ruby, 12/1972 • Superior Stamp & Coin Co. • Superior Galleries 11/1976: 44 $950 • G. Lee Kuntz • Superior Galleries 10/1991: 50 $6,050 • Dorothy Gershenson • Superior Galleries 2/1992: 693 $4,400 • Douglas F. Bird, 4/1997 • Robert C. Clark.

EF-45 H. Routz • Andrew Muller • Ronald Cooper. Del Bland • Myles Z. Gerson • Bertram Cohen • Tom Morley • Superior Galleries 5/1992: 195 $3,520 • Anthony Terranova.

EF-45 Eric P. Newman, 7/16/1982 • Eric P. Newman Numismatic Education Foundation.

EF-45 Joseph C. Mitchelson, 1913 • Connecticut State Library.

EF-45 George H. Earle, Jr. • Henry Chapman 6/1912: 3383 $11.50 • Howard R. Newcomb • J. C. Morgenthau & Co. #458, 2/1945:51 $45 • Judge Thomas L.Gaskill. New Netherlands Coin Co., privately 11/1956 • Dorothy Paschal • C. Douglas Smith, 1965 • Alfred Bonard • 1968 ANA (A. Kosoff & Numismatic Enterprises): 1717 $400.

EF-45 From England • Douglas F. Bird, 4/1997 • Robert C. Clark.