Walter Breen
Rarity 5.
Remarks: Probably about 3,000 were coined before Boudinot stopped the operation on October 27. The entire 37,000 minted at this weight standard must have taken four to six working days.
A few specimens are known on normal thick planchets but with a plain edge. The only one that has been publicized was in the C. Douglas Smith collection. (Details of publication are not known to the editor.) Dan Trollan reported such an example owned by Jack Beymer. He also reported an example from the Gary Ruttenberg collection (lot 106) with the edge lettered NDRED. (Letter to Mark Borckardt, April 28, 1997.) A Baltimore dealer has one weighing 196.8 grains (12.75 grams). Such specimens are apparently, like the occasional plain edge coins of 1793, 1794, and 1795 number 3 above, mint errors: blanks which reached the press without having gone through the Castaing machine for "rounding (upsetting) and edge marking." If you are in doubt, Weigh your coin; standard weight for number 4a is 208 grains (13.48 grams), for number 4b is 168 grains (10.89 grams).
"Apparently the change to the thin planchets preceded the abandonment of the edge lettering, as a few examples are found with a comparatively thin planchet and lettered edge. One such coin is known in MS-70 condition. (Sheldon, Early American Cents, p. 145; Penny Whimsy, pp. 145-6.) This coin is now listed in the census as MS-63.
"We have seen this variety struck over another cent, size 19, being 1/16 wider than normal," (David Proskey, Coin Collectors Journal, March 1880, p. 34.)
Two flipover double strikes are known appearing in the 1975 EAC sale (lot 556) and the 1977 ANA sale (lot 4467).
Two flipover double strikes are known appearing in the 1975 EAC sale (lot 556) and the 1977 ANA sale (lot 4467).
Condition Census:
MS-61 Carl Wurtzbach • Virgil M. Brand • B. G. Johnson (St. Louis Stamp & Coin Co.), 1940 • C. David Pierce • Hollinbeck Stamp and Coin Co. FPL, 1945: 16 $125 • Dr. William H. Sheldon, 4/19/1972" R E. Naftzger, Jr., 2/23/1992 • Eric Streiner • Jay Parrino (The Mint), 4/16/1996 • W. M. "Jack" Wadlington. Obverse and reverse illustrated in Penny Whimsy and in Noyes. Lettered edge on thin planchet.
EF-45 With two long line-like planchet defects on the reverse and a small one on the edge. Joseph J. Mickley • W. Elliot Woodward, 10th Semi-Annual Sale, 10/1867: 1954 $11 • Richard B. Winsor • S. H. & H. Chapman 12/1895:840 $42 • Chas. Steigerwalt • Col. James W. Ellsworth, 3/ 1923 • Wayte Raymond • Howard R Newcomb, 8/1944 • George H. Clapp • ANS. State II. Obverse and reverse illustrated in Clapp-Newcomb, in Early American Cents, and in Noyes.
VF-30 Sharpness of EF-45 but edge dents. H. E. Jones (Edinburgh, Scotland) • Scott & Co. 10/1878: 212 $100 • W. W. Thurston • S. K. Harzfeld #13, 9/1880: 108 $35 • Ed. Frossard • John E. Burton • W. Elliot Woodward #42,10/1881: 140 $30 • W. Elliot Woodward • W. Elliot Woodward #49, 7/1882: 336 $45 • consignor with initial "M" • S. H. Chapman • S. H. Chapman 6/1913: 469 $16 • Charles E. Clapp, Sr., 8/1924 • George H. Clapp • Carnegie Institute • Ray Byrne (Pittsburgh) • George W. "Hank" Rodgers • John W. Adams, 1972 • Robinson S. Brown, Jr. • Superior Galleries 9/1986: 100 $3,300 • Douglas F. Bird • Michael Kramer • Bowers and Merena 9/1994: 1128 $2,860 • Anthony Terranova, 12/1995 • Walter Husak. State II.
VF-25 Sharpness of VF-35 but edge dents. Carl Wurtzbach. Charles Wheeler • 1976 ANA (Stack's): 349 $400 • G. Lee Kuntz • Superior Galleries 10/1991: 84 $1,870 • Wes A. Rasmussen.
VF-25 Sharpness of VF-35 but field nicks and edge dents.
Alfred Bonard • French's, 5/1967 • R E. Naftzger, Jr. • New Netherlands Coin Co. 11/1973: 396 $275 • Herbert A. Silberman, 11/1977 • Chuck Furjanic.
VF-20 Charles J. Dupont • Stack's 9/1954: 103 $140 • Dorothy Paschal, 1972 • Charles E. Harrison.
VF-20 Sharpness of VF-35 but edge dents. Del Bland, 5/1957 • Wm. H. Smith (Eureka Coin Shop) • Dr. Charles L. Ruby, 12/1972 • Superior Stamp & Coin Co. • Superior Galleries 2/1974: 410 $675 • Fred S. Werner • Superior Galleries 11/1976: 50 $625 • Dr. Willard J. Carmel, Jr. • Jack H. Beymer, 9/7/1982 • Jack H. Robinson • Superior Galleries 1/1989: 136 $2,420 • Pete Smith. State 1.
VF-20 Sharpness of VF-30 but a small rectangular counters tamp below EN in CENT. From England • Thos. P. Warfield • Associated Coin Auction Co. 10/1955: 195 $130 • Allen E. McDowell.
VF-20 Herman S. Bernstein • Imperial Coin Co. 2/ 1955: 38.
F-15 1977 ANA (Kagin's Numismatic Auctions #309): 4467 $725 • Denis W Loring, 1/30/1979. RE.Naftzger, Jr. • Early American Coppers 4/1989:48 $1,600 • Chris Victor-McCawley (CVM) • Michael "Mickey" Arconti. Flipover double strike.
F-15 Sharpness of VF-25 but edge dents and faintly rough. ANS • Dr. William H. Sheldon, 2/1948 $75. Judge Thomas L. Gaskill • New Netherlands Coin Co., privately 11/1956 • Dorothy Paschal • New Netherlands Coin Co. #50, 12/1957: 984 $150 •. Dorothy Paschal • Hollinbeck Kagin Coin Co. • Leonard W. Stark (Central Coin Mart) • Hollinbeck Kagin Coin Co. • Hollinbeck Kagin Coin Co. #264, 6/1966: 895 • Hollinbeck Kagin Coin Co. • Art Kagin, privately 10/6/1989 • Chris Victor McCawley (CVM), 10/24/1989 Robinson S. Brown, Jr. • Superior Stamp & Coin Co. 1/1996: 106 $1,870 • Thomas D. Reynolds.
F-15 Frank H. Masters, Jr. Rare Coin Company of America 5/1971: 85 $195 • William R T. Smith.