Walter Breen's Encyclopedia of Early United States Cents

Obverse 33. Top lock is more delicate than on other dies of this group. BE are close and R is low. The date is closely spaced with 1 high and distant from the curl (about the width of the 7 away) and the 4 almost touches the bust. Usually identified by the die failure described below.

Reverse MM.

Die states: I. Obverse die is perfect with no trace of clash marks or bulges. Single set of clash marks on the reverse.

II. Clash marks from the wreath at the neck, and from O(F) just right of the 4. Straight bulge from the rim at 8:30 to the hair. Not to be confused with the next.

III. Double clash marks on both sides, plainest on the reverse from the bust, profile, and top of head. Bulge now extends faintly through the hair and face, and from the nose to the rim at 2:00.

IV. Straight crack along the bulge, from the rim to hair.

V. Bisecting crack, from rim to rim, along the bulge. Equivalents: Hays 55. McGirk 4K. Ross 34-00; Chapman 54. Sheldon 68. EAC 58. Encyclopedia 1669.

Rarity 5.

Remarks: Discovered by Ed. Frossard and announced in his 23rd sale, August 3, 1882, lot 548.

This variety apparently formed a minority of the December 16 delivery.

The ANS has one with the edge blundered ONE HUNDFROED A DOLLAR. (Dan Trollan, Penny-Wise, no. 184,1/15/1998, p. 11.)

Condition Census:

AU-55 J. Sanford Saltus, 10/26/1899 .ANS, 12/15/1950 • Homer K. Downing •1952 ANA (New Netherlands Coin Co. #38): 1700 $340 • Harold Bareford, 9/13/1985 • Herman Halpern, 12/11/1986 • R. E. Naftzger, Jr.• Dr. Allen Bennett. State V. Obverse and reverse illustrated in Noyes.

EF-40 B. Max Mehl, 2/1931 • George H. Clapp • ANS • Dr. William H. Sheldon. This coin was first listed and described as a "new variety of Hays 55" on page 64 of Mehl's 82nd auction (12/1930) but it was not offered for sale at that time. Instead, Mehl said he was placing the coin into the Dr. French collection of 1794s, and that the collection would be sold only as a whole.

VF-30 B. Max Mehl, privately • Lloyd Goldy, circa 1953 • John C. Adams, Sr. • John C. Adams, Jr. State I.

VF-30 Sharpness of EF-40 but an obverse nick and some reverse pitting. W. W. C. WIlson • Wayte Raymond for The Anderson Galleries #1996, 11/1925: 203 $105 • Howard R. Newcomb • J. C. Morgenthau & Co. #458, 2/1945: 70 $85 • Milton A. Holmes • Stack's 10/1960: 1384 $300 • R. E. Naftzger, Jr. • New Netherlands Coin Co. 11/1973: 389 $1,000 • John W. Adams, 7/1975 • Denis W. Loring, 5/7/1983. Jack H. Robinson, 1/23/1988 • John R. Frankenfield. Obverse illustrated in Morley.

VF-30 Paramount International Coin Corp. 11/1973: 825 $700 • Dr. Robert A. Schuman • Del Bland, 3/25/ 1984 • George E. Ewing, Jr., 6/1994 • Al Boka.

VF-20 R. H. Underhill • Thomas L. Elder 1/1929: 1418 $150 • Henry C. Hines, 1945 • Dr. William H. Sheldon, 2/14/1948 • Judge Thomas L. Gaskill • New Netherlands Coin Co., privately 11/1956 • Dorothy Paschal • C. Douglas Smith, 1965 • Alfred Bonard • Numismatic Enterprises 2/1968: 36 $700 • Alfred Bonard • Stack's 1/1969: 176 $300 • Norman Stack Collection • Herman Halpern • Stack's 3/1988: 98 $2,750 • Frank H. Stillinger.

VF-20 Henry C. Miller • Thomas L. Elder 4/1917: 707 $55 • Dr. George P. French, 3/21/1929 • B. Max Mehl FPL, 1929: 82 $150 • T. James Clarke, 1944 • B. Max Mehl • Dr. William H. Sheldon. ANS. Obverse and reverse illustrated in Chapman.

VF-20 Sharpness of VF-30 but an X scratch on the obverse. Charles J. Dupont • Stack's 9/1954: 96 $150 • Dor-othy Paschal • Robinson S. Brown, Jr. • Superior Galleries 9/1986: 90 $1,485 • Robert E. Matthews • Superior Galleries 5/1989: 202 $2,310 • unknown • Chris Victor-McCawley (CVM), 8/11/1989 • Daniel W. Holmes, Jr. Obverse illustrated in Morley.