Walter Breen's Encyclopedia of Early United States Cents

Obverse 25. In the date, 6 was first punched too low, then repunched higher. 96 are more closely spaced than other digits.

Reverse AA. Six berries left and five right. Wide denominator. A die scratch extends the fraction bar to the right ribbon end. Diagonal of the final A (not merely the serif) is extremely close to the right ribbon.

Die states:

I. Perfect dies.

II. Single set of clash marks below the ribbon and more faintly at the neck. Reverse clash mark from the neckline through the berry right of (N)E. Another, from the drapery joins the top leaf to O(F).

III. Double obverse clash marks. Defect above Y.

IV Obverse crack through ER joins the rim break on TY and extends right. Extremely rare.

Equivalents: Gilbert 16. McGirk 9D, 9G. Ross 15-G. Clapp-Newcomb 16. Sheldon 105. EAC 44.

Encyclopedia 1697.

High Rarity 5.

Remarks: The date may have been originally intended for the earlier layout with digits in a straight line and 96 close, but the repunching of 6 (higher and leaning a little to the left) has placed this obverse among the close curved dates. It was probably made earlier, between the straight date obverses, dies 11, 12, 14, 18, and the close curved date obverses, dies 10, 15, 16, 20, well before the present group.

The Blaisdell, Robinson S. Brown, Jr. state II coin' has a mint clip over L.

Condition Census:

MS-60 Purchased unattributed in England by Henry C. Miller • Thomas L. Elder 4/1917: 737a $132.50 • Henry C. Hines, 1945 • Dr. William H. Sheldon, 4/19/1972 • R. E. Naftzger, Jr., 2/23/1992 • Eric Streiner. Obverse and reverse illustrated in Gilbert-Elder, in Early American Cents, in Penny Whimsy, and in Noyes.

VF-35 Sharpness of AU-50 but surfaces lightly rough with a defect on the face. Dr. George P. French, 3/21/1929 • B. Max Mehl FPL, 1929: 127 $150 • T. James Clarke, 1944 • B. Max Mehl • Charles M. Williams • Numismatic Gallery#68, 11/1950: 111 $180. Harold Bareford, 9/13/1985 • Herman Halpern • Stack's 3/1988: 121 $9,350 • Charles E. Harrison • Anthony Terranova, 5/1994 • John Whitney.

VF-20 Ed Hipps (Ed's Coin & Stamp Shop), 11/1965 • Dr. William H. Sheldon • Dorothy Paschal, 6/1977 • R. E. Naftzger, Jr. Obverse illustrated in Noyes.

F-15 Sharpness of VF-30 but lightly porous with two obverse scratches. Christian M. Petersen • Hollinbeck Coin Co. • Hollinbeck Coin Co. #174,2/1954: 421 • Hollinbeck Coin Co. • Hollinbeck Coin Co. #214, 10/1957: 216 $550 • Hollinbeck Coin Co. • Hollinbeck Kagin Coin Co. #220, 8/1958: 36 $860 • Hollinbeck Kagin Coin Co. • Leonard W. Stark (Central Coin Mart) • Hollinbeck Kagin Coin Co. - A. Kosoff 10/1961: 121 $600 • Hollinbeck Kagin Coin Co. • Hollinbeck Kagin Coin Co. #250 Part 4, 8/1964: 146 $850 • Hollinbeck Kagin Com Co,. Hollinbeck Kagin Coin Co. #250 Part 6, 2/1965: 176 $2,150. Hollinbeck Kagin Coin Co. • Hollinbeck Kagin Coin Co. #297, 5/1972: 192 $2,100 • Hollinbeck Kagin Coin Co. • Hollinbeck Kagin Coin Co. #299, 1/1973: 255 $860 • Hollinbeck Kagin Coin Co. • Kagin's Numismatic Auctions #321, 7/1980:123 $950. Kagin's, privately 8/1982 • Jack R Beymer. Dr. Robert J. Shalowitz • Dr. C. R. Chambers • Dr. Philip W. Ralls, 5/2/1997 • W. M. "Jack" Wadlington.

VG-10 Sharpness of F-15 but a couple nicks and edge dents; cleaned and recolored. Purchased from the grandson of a Norfolk, Virginia customs collector by James E. Long, Jr. G. E. L. Coins), 5/1986 • Denis W. Loring, 5/9/1986 • Robinson S. Brown, Jr• Superior Stamp & Coin Co. 11 1996: 146 $1,870 • Steven K Ellsworth. State II.

VG-8 Sharpness of F-12 but finely porous. Purchased unattributed by a date collector and sold on 2/11/1989 to Thomas D. Reynolds.

VG-8 Sidney W. Smith, 7 /1966 • John D. Wright. VG-8 Dr. William H. Sheldon • Dorothy Paschal • Allen E. McDowell Jake Hendin, 7/30/1978 • Richard V. Punchard • Early American Coppers 4/1995: 189 $350 • Steven K Ellsworth • Early American Coppers 5/1996: 120 $450 • Stuart "Mac" MacDonald • Heritage Numismatic Auctions 9/1997: 5100 $1,265 • Thomas D. Reynolds.

VG-8 Sharpness of VF-20 but porous. George H. Clapp, 3/31/1949 • Carnegie Institute.

VG-8 Gerald Murch • Julian Leidman • Don Valenziano, Jr., 4/15/1991 • Dennis Mendelson. Joyce Roether.

VG-8 With a planchet clip. Sharpness of F-12 with several edge nicks and dents on both sides. Willard C. Blaisdell, 12/29/1949 • C. Douglas Smith, 1970 • Robinson S. Brown, Jr.
• Superior Galleries 9/1986: 139 $396 • Dr. Ralph W. Rucker.

VG-B Ray Chatham • Dorothy Paschal.