Walter Breen's Encyclopedia of Early United States Cents

VF-20 Sharpness of VF-30 but a line-like defect on obverse and a few light edge nicks. Dorothy Paschal • Dr. Nat D. Wilson • 1967 ANA (Paramount International Coin Corp.): 189 $170 • Alfred Bonard • HerbertA. Silberman, 11/1977 Chuck Furjanic, 5/1978 • John D. Wright.

VF-20 B. A. Seaby, Ltd. (London), 1946 • Willard C. Blaisdell. Del Bland • Dr, Willard J. Carmel, Jr. • Jack H. Beymer. Dr. Robert J. Shalowitz • Dr. C. R. Chambers • Robert E. Matthews • Superior Galleries 5/1989: 261 $2,750 • Dr. Robert J. Shalowitz.

VF-20 Sharpness of VF-30 but obverse scratches, a few nicks and dents. Purchased unattributed by Walter Breen • Dorothy Paschal, 11/1977 • Myles Z. Gerson • Dr. Philip W. Ralls, 5/2/1997 W. M. "Jack" Wadlington.

F-15 Stamp Center auction 11/1984 • Fred H. Borcherdt.

F-15 Dr. George P. French, privately • Henry C. Hines • Dr. William H. Sheldon, 2/14/1948 • Judge Thomas L. Gaskill • New Netherlands Coin Co., privately 11/ 1956 • Dorothy Paschal • W. E. Johnson • American Auction Association 5/1972: 406 $270.

F-12 Sharpness of VF-20 but on the head are two scratches and the reverse is lightly porous. David Proskey • Henry C. Hines • Homer K. Downing • 1952 ANA (New Netherlands Coin Co. #38): 1756 $26.50 • C. Douglas Smith, 1970 • Robinson S. Brown, Jr. • Superior Galleries 9/1986: 157 $660 • David Liljestrand (Dave's Coin & Stamp Co.) • Robinson, Victor-McCawley (RVM) • Dennis Mendelson, 7/15/1991 • Robinson S. Brown, Jr. • Superior Stamp & Coin Co. 1/1996: 162 $1,210. State II.

F-12 Purchased unattributed in 11/1976 from Randy Block (RAB Coins) by Robert W. Miller, Sr. This coin was later stolen from Miller.

F-12 Robert D. Book, 5/1930 • George H. Clapp • Dr. William H. Sheldon • Dorothy Paschal • R. E. Naftzger, Jr. • New Netherlands Coin Co. 11/1973: 431 $190 • Roger S. Cohen, Jr. • Superior Galleries 2/1992: 792 $1,540 • John R. Frankenfield .

F-12 Consignment New Brunswick • Coin Galleries 8/1989: 2254 $1,925 • John Whitney.

F-12 Sharpness of VF-25 but some obverse pitting. A Maryland consignment, formerly the property of a distinguished collector • New Netherlands Coin Co. #51, 6/1958: 277 $48 • John A. Schreuder, 4/1970 • Del Bland • Gordon J. Wrubel Darwin B. Palmer, Jr. • Denis W. Loring, 5/1974. Dr. Robert J. Shalowitz.

Reverse Type of 1797

November 6-December 2, 1797 and Early 1798

(416,563+)

Some varieties in this group followed varieties dated 1797, by evidence of reverse die breaks. The later varieties, 41-46, were probably struck in 1798, the rusted die state of number 45 possibly as late as December 1798 as part of the emergency issues following the Mint's reopening after the yellow fever epidemic.

Nothing is deducible from the delivery figures (given in full under 1797) except that at least varieties 39-45 were made on blanks from the first Boulton & Watt shipment, evidently mingled with varieties dated 1797, whereas earlier 1796s and other 1797s came from the Coltman (Governor & Co.) sheet copper. By this time the concavo-convex blanks were mostly exhausted.

Obverse 21. Straight "italic" date, the digits all lean right. RT are far apart with their bases above E-Y and R leans well to the right of E.

Reverse W. No ribbon knot. Five berries left and five right. Small checkmark-shaped defect above (M)E. (This is Sheldon's "hook-shaped break.") Fraction is skewed a little to the left with 1 of the denominator nearly touching the ribbon. Like reverse X of number 39, but no other in this group, the point of the top right (double) leaf is between ES. ED are farther apart than usual and RI are below adjacent E.

Die states: 1. No cracks.

II. Hairline crack through the tops of TY and right.

III. Crack plainer through the tops of TY. This becomes heavy and extends through the top of R to the rim. Reverse cracked from the rim to curve of D.

IV. Obverse has a narrow rim break in the dentils above the right part of R, however centering or wear may not permit this to show. Clash mark before throat. Reverse crack from the rim to curve of D now extends through the wreath to the left ribbon end and rim. A second crack from the rim through tops of STATE and a third through the tops of AM continues to the rim. Clash mark from the drapery joins leaves to O(F). Lower part of outer leaf at IT is missing.

V. Obverse crack from rim through RTY to rim is now very heavy, with a rim break above Y to right.

VI. Rim break on T joins that on Y. Discovered by Thomas Vereb.

VII. Rim break on R joins that at TY. Discovered May 1965 by Don Boller. (Penny-Wise, no. 23, 3/15/1971, p. 81.)