Walter Breen's Encyclopedia of Early United States Cents

VI. Heavy clash marks are plainest at the wreath. VII. Reverse polished to remove clash marks in the center, however, not all are gone. The cracks of state V are heavier.

Equivalents: Proskey 4. Doughty 68. McGirk 3A. Clapp-Newcomb 2. Sheldon 74. EAC 2. Encyclopedia 1672.

High Rarity 3.

Remarks: Occasionally lightweight. Dr. Charles Ruby (Superior Galleries, 2/1974: 408.) had an example that weighed 194 grains (12.57 grams).

Two are known with edge blundered ONE HUNDREDR A DOLLAR. (B. Max Mehl, 2/1931 to ANS; John D. Wright collection.) John S. Ashby reported an example of this variety (or the next, the reverse is worn smooth) with a plain edge which weighs 187.5 grains. (Penny-Wise, no. 86, 9/15/1981, p. 234) Either this or another was reported by Dan Trollan as part of his collection which was acquired from the 1997 EAC convention sale. (Letter to Mark Borckardt, Apri128, 1997.)

Probably about 8,000 coined: a day's work.

Condition Census:

MS-65 Virgil M. Brand • Carl Wurtzbach, 1935 • Charles R. Mathewson, 1953 • Dr. William H. Sheldon, 4/19/1972 • R. E. Naftzger, Jr., 2/23/1992 • Eric Streiner • Jay Parrino (The Mint). Obverse and reverse illustrated in Noyes. Wurtzbach considered this coin "the most valuable 1795 cent."

MS-65 Harlan P. Smith • S. H. & H. Chapman 5/1906: 1081 $145 • Thomas L. Elder • Howard R. Newcomb • J. C. Morgenthau & Co. #458, 2/1945: 79 $250 • T. James Clarke, 10/1954 - R. E. Naftzger, Jr. • New Netherlands Coin Co. 11/1973: 395 $5,000 • Andrew M. Hain, 10/29/ 1974 • Charles E. Harrison • Dr. Haig Koshkarian.

MS-60 Pine Tree Auction Galleries 6/1978: 335 $3,800 Ed Hipps (Ed's Coin & Stamp Shop) • Dr. Robert J. Shalowitz • Jim McGuigan • Dr. Allen Bennett, 4/4/1992. Dr. Philip W. Ralls.

MS-60 Henry C. Miller • Thomas L. Elder 4/1917: 714 $240 • Dr. Henry W. Beckwith • S. H. Chapman 4/1923: 6 $150. Elmer S. Sears, 7/1923 • George H. Clapp. ANS. State VII. Reverse illustrated in Clapp-Newcomb, in Early American Cents, and in Penny Whimsy.

AU-50 Sylvester S. Crosby • John W. Haseltine #70, 6/ 1883: 1497 $28.50 • R. W. Randall • New Netherlands Coin Co. 3/1973: 41 $825 • Robinson S. Brown, Jr. • Superior Galleries 9/1986: 98 $5,060 • G. Lee Kuntz • Superior Galleries 10/1991: 82 $6,050 • Larry Briggs Rare Coins • Bowers and Merena Galleries • Dr. John A. Van Arsdall • Bowers and Merena 1/1993: 224 not sold • Dr. John A. Van Arsdall • Bowers and Merena 11/1994: 2032 $5,940. State VI.

EF-45 William Cutler Atwater • B. Max Mehl #108, 6/ 1946: 18 $57.50 • Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. • Bowers and Merena 5/1996: 500 $1,760.

EF-40 Dorothy Paschal • New Netherlands Coin Co. #50,12/1957: 980 $190 • Harold Bareford, 9/13/1985 • Herman Halpern • Stack's 3/1988: 108 $2,860 • Dr. Michael Eisenberg, 10/1996 • Eugene Sternlicht.

EF-40 Sharpness of AU-50 but obverse has several tiny nicks and a small dent. George Roebling • New Netherlands Coin Co. #59, 6/1967: 1200 $510 • R. E. Naftzger, Jr. • Denis W. Loring. unknown • Jess Peters #84, 9/1976: 837 $450 • unknown • Robert L. Hughes Enterprises 2/1978: 57 $1,000 • unknown • New England Rare Coin Auctions 7/1978: 69 $1,150 • Ronald Cooper • Gwyn Houston • Kagin's Numismatic Auctions #327, 6/1982: 237 $2,200 • Unknown • Kagin's Numismatic Auctions #340, 1/1986: 4128 $2,200 • Wes A. Rasmussen. State VI.

EF-40 With planchet defects in denticles over TY. M & G Auctions 1/1997: 206 $4,730 • W. M. "Jack" Wadlington.

EF-40 Bamey Bluestone. Judge Jos. Sawicki • Stack's 2/1954: 593 as "S-75" $140 • Dorothy Paschal, 12/1977 • Myles Z. Gerson, 12/1977 • Denis W. Loring, 5/1979·-
John W. Adams.

EF-40 Carl Wurtzbach • Or. William H. Sheldons New Netherlands Coin Co. #50, 12/1957: 981 $150. • Corrado Romano (Worthy Coin Co.).

EF-40 Robert D. Book, 5/1930 • George H. Clapp • ANS • (no longer in ANS collection). State III.