Walter Breen's Encyclopedia of Early United States Cents

Obverse 23. Widest space between 1 7 and 6 nearly touches both dentils and drapery. Hair is "unfinished" (vague and incomplete) below ER, probably from regrinding to remove clash marks or other flaws.

Reverse Z. Six berries left, five right and smaller than on earlier reverses of this group. Denominator is skewed left with 1 entirely out from under the bar which is short and distant from both ribbons. Inner edge of the left ribbon is recut.

Die states: I. "Perfect dies." A faint crack from the rim to end of the drapery is hard to see on low-grade specimens. Extremely rare.

II. Crack at middle of I, another from top of 6 to the drapery. No clash marks. Extremely rare.

III. Faint crack through 17. Clash marks at the date from TATE, and at TATE from the date. Clashed dentils above STATE. See Remarks.

IV. Heavy crack from the rim extending through the middle of 17, up through 96 to the drapery, eventually through the drapery into the bust. The clash marks of state III are less obvious.

V. Die failing below 7 and above A(T). The latter failure consists of two heavily clashed dentils, one joining the top of A with this letter often weak.

Equivalents: Proskey 13. Doughty 83. Gilbert 11. McGirk 9B. Ross 10-H. Clapp-Newcomb 10. Sheldon 113. EAC 41. Encyclopedia 1696.

Rarity 5.

Remarks: This reverse is similar to reverse AA and was probably made on or about the same day. 1797 number 13 was struck between this and number 42. The clashing accident of state III probably happened while the obverse was loose in its stake (axial misalignment), and contributed to the rapid advancement of the break at the date. This variety may exist with a retained cud or rim break at 179. P (See Noyes illustration "AN5-1261.")

Condition Census:

VF-35 Elmer S. Sears, 8/1926 • George H. Clapp • ANS. State III. Obverse and reverse illustrated in Clapp-Newcomb and in Noyes. Obverse illustrated in Early American Cents and in Penny Whimsy.

VF-35 Purchased in the latter part of the 19th century by George L. Davis • Stack's 4/1954: 1594 $250 • Dorothy Paschal • Dr. William H. Sheldon, 4/19/1972 • R. E. Naftzger, Jrl, 2/23/1992 • Eric Streiner, 12/1993 • John Whitney.

VF-30 Henry C. Hines • Dr. William H. Sheldon • Dorothy Paschal • Dr. Calvin Ennis • Jerry Cohen • Jack H. Beymer, 4/15/1989 • Dr. Philip W. Ralls.

VF-25 Henry C. Miller • Thomas L. Elder 4/1917: 735 $15.50 • G. Kraft • Dr. G. F. E. Wilharm • B. Max Meh1 #59, 2/1921: 1363 $22.25 • Robert D. Book, 5/1930 • George H. Clapp • ANS. State IV.: Obverse and reverse illustrated in Gilbert-Elder.

VF-25 Owned for years by a farmer in Vermont and purchased circa 1972 by Richard Furlani • John S. Ashby, Jr. (Ashby's Best Coppers), 8/1982 Jack H. Robinson-Superior Galleries 1/1989: 207 $4,840 • Dennis Mendelson • Charles E. Harrison. State V.

VF-25 Dr. George P. French, 3/21/1929 • B. Max Mehl FPL, 1929: 122 $45 • T. James Clarke • John H. Payne • Dr. William H. Sheldon, 4/19/1972 • Dorothy Paschal.

VF-20 Sharpness of VF-30 but some porous spots on reverse. Mayflower Coin Auctions 7/1962: 82 $300 • unknown • Mayflower Coin Auctions 2/1966: 61 $200 • Jackson C. Storm, 7/31/1984 • Denis W. Loring, 8/1984 • Dr. Robert J. Shalowitz • Dr. C. R. Chambers • Dr. Philip W. Ralls, 5/22/1989 • Robinson S. Brown, Jr. • Superior Stamp & Coin Co. 1/1996: 156 $2,420 • Daniel W. Holmes, Jr.

F-15 Sharpness of VF-25 but lightly porous. Howard R. Newcomb • J. C. Morgenthau & Co. #458, 2/1945: 106 $27.50 • Dr. William H. Sheldon • Homer K. Downing • 1952 ANA (New Netherlands Coin Co. #38): 1752 $105 • Willard C. Blaisdell • Myles Z. Gerson • Dr. Philip W. Ralls • Superior Galleries tn.990: 284 $1,980 • Dr. Ralph W. Rucker.

F-15 Hollinbeck Kagin Coin Co. • Leonard W. Stark (Central Coin Mart) • Hollinbeck Kagin Coin Co. • Hollinbeck Kagin Coin Co. #250 Part 6, 2/1965: 178 $1,250 • Hollinbeck Kagin Coin Co. • Hollinbeck Kagin Coin Co. #282, 3/1969: 834 $1,050.

F-12 Sharpness of VF-25 but some surface roughness and edge dents. William A. Gaede, 6/1925 • George H. Clapp • ANS. State II.

F-12 Sharpness of AU-50 but porous. C. Turkiela, 11/1972. John D. Wright.

F-12 Sharpness of VF-20 but finely porous. Lillian Willins • Early American Coppers 4/1992: 62 $1,600 • Stuart "Mac" MacDonald • Heritage Numismatic Auctions 9/1997: 5104 $3,220.

F-12 Charles M. Williams • Numismatic Gallery #68, 11/1950: 118 $110 • unknown - Numismatic Gallery #76, 12/1952: 564 $110.

F-12 George J. Bauer, 10/14/1951 • C. Douglas Smith, 1970 Robinson S. Brown, Jr. • Gordon J. Wrubel. Ray Chatham.