Walter Breen's Encyclopedia of Early United States Cents

Obverse 6.

Reverse G. Five berries left and three right, without a berry right of the bow and only one berry right of CENT. Double leaf at R instead of the normal paired berries. No triple leaves within the wreath. Upper part of the right wreath stem arises from the leaf tip right of (N)T and is not connected with the lower part which ends as a long stem for the double leaf at R. Fraction bar and denominator are both skewed left. Leaf below I(CA) is hollow. UN touch with the N leaning left, its top and base above I. D is slightly below E. AMER touch.

Die states: I. Obverse reground to remove clash marks. Point of the top lock is narrower, with a sharper faint tip. Hollow place in the hair between the third and fourth locks. Dentils are weak, especially at the top. Reverse has a short vertical flaw above the right top of N(E). See Remarks.

II. Bulge develops in the central reverse, involving (O)NE, EN, bows, and part of the numerator.

III. Cracked through the tops of LIBER. Extremely rare. Discovered about 1957 and only two then seen. (Breen, "Cent Collectors' Forum," Numismatist, April 1957, p. 419; Penny Whimsy, p. 339.)

Equivalents: Gilbert I. McGirk 4A, 4B. Ross 6-F.

Clapp-Newcomb I. Sheldon 90. EAC 11. Encyclopedia 1682.

High Rarity 5.

Remarks: Discovered by Dr. C. E. McGirk. The reverse was stored in a vault for subsequent use, being resurrected in 1797 as reverse A.

Many, though not all, state I examples have the reverse die aligned approximately 1800 from normal: McGirk 4B. Jack H. Robinson had examples (lots 162 and 163) showing both alignments.

Additional Gilbert and McGirk numbers represent duplications.

Probably 1,500 to 2,000 were coined.

Condition Census:

MS-60 Henry C. Miller • Thomas L. Elder 4/1917: 725 $79 • Dr. George P. French, privately • Col. E. H. R. Green • B. G. Johnson (St. Louis Stamp & Coin Co.), 5/7/1942 $75 • James G. Macallister • James A. Stack, Sr. • Bowers and Ruddy Galleries 4/1979: 131 $7,500 • Gene Reale • Sotheby's (New York) #7083, 1/1998: 23 $46,750 • John Whitney. Obverse and reverse illustrated in Gilbert-Elder.

MS-60 With considerable planchet roughness. Henry C. Miller • Thomas L. Elder 4/1917: 724 as "Proof"$100 • Lewis C. Gehring • Thomas L. Elder 8/1921: 889 $105 • Dr. George P. French, 3/21/1929 • B. Max Mehl FPL, 1929: 105 $275 • T. James Clarke, 1948 • Dr. William H. Sheldon, 4/19/1972 • R. E. Naftzger, Jr., 2/23/1992 • Eric Streiner • John Whitney. Obverse and reverse illustrated in Penny Whimsy and in Noyes. Dr. French used to carry this coin with him and loved to show it off as a "Proof."

AU-55 Hollinbeck Stamp and Coin Co., privately 1949 • Homer K. Downing .1952 ANA (New Netherlands Coin Co. #38): 1726 $365 • A. Kosoff • R. E. Naftzger, Jr.
• New Netherlands Coin Co. 11/1973: 409 $4,500 • An-drew M. Hain, 10/29/1974 via Lester Merkin • Charles E. Harrison.

AU-55 L. F. Montanye • H. G. Sampson 4/1881: 315 $11.60 • Dr. Edward Maris • Harlan P. Smith 6/1886: 272 $10.50 • A. C. Gies, 2/1934 • George H. Clapp • ANS. State 1. Obverse and reverse illustrated in Clapp-Neui-comb and in Early American Cents.

VF-35 With a planchet clip. Sharpness of EF-45 but some edge dents and part of the edge has been filed. John P. Young • M. H. Bolender #181, 9/1951: 55 $260 • R. E. Naftzger, Jr. • Robert Gildred • Kagin's Numismatic Auctions #331, 10/1983: 1021 $6,600 • Dr. C. R. Chambers, 10/26/ 1989 • Dennis Mendelson, 7/15/1991 • Robinson S. Brown, Jr. • Superior Stamp & Coin Co. 1/1996: 125 $10,450 • Walter Husak.

F-15 Nashau Coin Shop • Del Bland • Dr. Robert J. Shalowitz, 11/1973. DenisW. Loring, 5/1974. Dr. Robert J. Shalowitz • Chuck Furjanic • William R. T. Smith • Myles Z. Gerson • Robinson S. Brown, Jr. • Superior Galleries 9/1986: 118 $3,960 • Dan Demeo.

F-15 Purchased unattributed by Denis W. Loring, 11/ 11/1969 • an unidentified eastern collector.

F-15 James Ten Eyck • B. Max Mehl #68, 5/1922: 890 $17.25.

F-12 Sharpness of VF-20 but some faint raised corrosion and an edge dent. Discovered by Del Bland in a date set purchased by Donald Lynch (San Jose Coin Shop), 12/ 15/1993 • Jack H. Robinson • Bowers and Merena 11/1994: 2039 not sold • Jack H. Robinson.

VG-10 Sharpness of F-15 but some planchet roughness and a couple edge dents. Joseph J. Adamski • William R. T. Smith, 7/1976 • Charles A. Blood.

VG-8 Sharpness of VF-20 but Some obverse and reverse pitting. Willard C. Blaisdell, 8/1977 • Denis W. Loring, 8/1977 • Dan Gibson, 1/1980 • Del Bland • Dr. Willard J. Carmel, Jr. • Robert E. Vail, 11/21/1988 • Del Bland • Dr. Philip W. Ralls.

VG-8 Eugene Exman, 1972 • Robinson S. Brown, Jr.

(Breen, "Cent Collectors' Forum," Numismatist, April 1957, p. 419; Penny Whimsy, p. 339.)