Walter Breen's Encyclopedia of Early United States Cents

Obverse 17. As on number 27. "BLIHERTYB': B first rotated 180°, then corrected.

Reverse AA.

Die states: 1. Obverse perfect. Reverse clash marks as before.

II. Faint crack from the rim to the right center of top of (A)T. This becomes heavy.

III. Rusted dies. Heavier clash marks in and below the wreath. Heavy chip out of the die at drapery near the end. Crack from the rim through o(F),later extending to the wreath near (ON)E, still later reaching this E. Faint crack from the rim to the left top of M. Later, all rust and breaks are heavier.

IV. Cud on TY. Discovered by W. R. T. Smith. (Penny-WlSe, no. 32, 9/15/1972, p. 205.)

Equivalents: Proskey 15. Doughty 85. Gilbert 10. McGirk 9A. Ross 9-G. Clapp-Newcomb 9. Sheldon 104. EAC 45. Encyclopedia 1698.

High Rarity 3.

Remarks: Two errors deserve mention. An example about 10% off center at K-5, ex Charles Ruby and Jack H. Robinson, is now in the Chris Victor-McCawley collection.

The other, double struck with strikings rotated about 10°, state I, was in the Jack H. Robinson collection sale, lot 189.

Condition Census:

EF-45 Sharpness of AU-55 but corrosion removed from reverse; recolored. Robert Coulton Davis • New York Coin & Stamp Co. 1/1890: 2531 $40 • Harlan P. Smith • S. H. & H. Chapman 5/1906: 1086 $80 • unknown • Henry C. Hines. Dr. William H. Sheldon, 4/19/1972 • R. E. Naftzger, Jr., 2/23/1992 • Eric Streiner • Jay Parrino (The Mint), 7/1995 • Michael "Mickey" Arconti. Obverse illustrated in Early American Cents and in Penny Whimsy. Obverse and reverse illustrated in Noyes.

EF-45 Thomas L. Elder 9/1936: 1878 $62 • Judge Thomas L. Gaskill • New Netherlands Coin Co., privately 11/1956 • Dorothy Paschal.

VF-35 Howard R. Newcomb • J. C. Morgenthau & Co. #458, 2/1945: 105 $85 • James Kelly. Celina Coin Co. #21, 3/1947: 2040 • James Kelly • Milton A. Holmes • Stack's 10/1960: 1389 $360 • Philip E. Benedetti (Pickwick Stamp & Coin Co.) • Loye L. Lauder • William Doyle Galleries 12/1983: 345 $7,150 • Charles E. Harrison.

VF-35 Sharpness of EF-45 but edge dents; cleaned and recolored. Benjamin H. Collins, 5/1922 • George H. Clapp • ANS. State III. VF-25 Robert D. Book, 5/1930 • George H. Clapp • ANS • Dr. William H. Sheldon • Dorothy Paschal. Reverse illustrated in Clapp-Newcomb.

VF-2S T. Henry Allen • Stack's 2/1977: 111 $475 • Jim McGuigan. Dr. Robert J. Shalowitz, 5/1981 • Dr. C. R. Chambers • Dermis Mendelson • Fred H. Borcherdt.

VF-25 With blunt striking in the area of the knot on the reverse. G. Kraft, 2/1923 • George H. Clapp, 3/31/1949 • Carnegie Institute.

VF-25 M. A. Brown • S. H. & H. Chapman 4/1897: 772 $6.25 • S. H. & H. Chapman • William F. Gable. S. H. Chapman 5/1914: 1270 $24 • Henry Chapman. unknown • Dr. William H. Sheldon • ANS.

VF-25 Hazen B. Hinman • Paramount International Coin Corp. 4/1965: 151 $275 • unknown. Heritage Rare Coin Galleries • 1994 ANA (Heritage Numismatic Auctions): 5067 $3,960.

VF-25 Sharpness of VF-35 but faintly rough; cleaned and recolored. Found under a fireplace mantle in a Pennsylvania farmhouse and sold in 4/1989 to John M. Foreman, Sr. • Stack's 1/1993: 1117 $5,500 • John Whitney.

VF-2S Charles F. Heinig • Stack's 10/1978: 849 $400.

VF-2S Sy Winderman (Tru- Value Coin Co.), 4/1970 • Dr. Allen D. Roses.