Walter Breen's Encyclopedia of Early United States Cents

Obverse 20. One of three very similar obverses with reverse T. LIB are close and B leans right. Most easily distinguished from obverses 21 and 22 by direct comparison (check for die breaks first). LIBERTY is closer than on obverse 21, ER are farther apart than on obverse 22.

Reverse T. Type of 1799. E(D) wide and perfect. E(S) narrow with left base very short, almost gone; left base of F not quite so short. Bow open at right. Tail of Rand CA repunched (although not always clear). Leaf stem right of (N)E crosses wreath stem. Traces of recutting on base of fraction bar, not always clear. Outer berry below E(D) stemless and held between leaves. No center dot.

Edge: Reeded edge (RE) and plain edge (PE).

Die states: 1. Obverse as preceding without the rim break. Clapp 22-U.

II. Small rim break below space between 98, later visible (centering permitting) also below 9 and space to left. Reverse has four sets of clash marks in the wreath.

III. Bulge above IBER.

IV. Bulges above LIBER and right of Y down to a point opposite the nose.

V. Rust through 798 and in the right £ield near rim. Reverse cracked from (N)E up to wreath.

Equivalents: Doughty 119. Proskey 11. McGirk 6A. Clapp 29. Sheldon 169. EAC 28. Encyclopedia 1732.

Low Rarity 3.

Remarks: Base of date and adjacent border are often weak. Many coins apparently of state I may actually be state

The distinction between worn perfect die specimens of obverses 20 and 22 is among the most difficult in the early cents aside from 1800. Comparison with the photographs will normally suffice.

The Jack H. Robinson collection coin (lot 344) has a double profile under the chin.

Condition Census:

AU-55 Gimbel's Coin Department (Robert Friedberg, New York City) • Dr. Frank Bryant, 2/1987 • Jack H. Beymer • Dr. Robert J. Shalowitz • C. Douglas Smith, 2/28/1990 • Dr. Philip W. Ralls.

AU-50 Miss Sarah Sophia Banks, 1818 • British Museum (London).

AU-50 Homer K. Downing • 1952 ANA (New Netherlands Coin Co. #38): 1820 $140 • C. Douglas Smith. State II. Reverse illustrated in Penny Whimsy.

AU-50 J. Coolidge Hills • Lyman H. Low #211, 12/1923: 363 $4.10 • George H. Oapp • ANS • Dr. William H. Sheldon. Obverse and reverse illustrated in Noyes.

EF-40 From England, 8/1976 • Michael Sherman. Jim McGuigan, 6/1983 • Fred H. Borcherdt.

EF-40 Sharpness of AU-50 but light scratches and light porosity. Dr. William H. Sheldon • ANS.

VF-35 Sharpness of EF-45 but gouge under chin and two edge nicks. Henry C. Hines • Dr. William H. Sheldon. Dorothy Paschal, 1974 • Robinson S. Brown, Jr. • Superior Galleries 9/1986: 237 $1,265 • Dr. Philip W. Ralls • Early American Coppers 4/1994: 239 $1,500 • Dr. Philip W. Ralls.

VF-35 Heritage Numismatic Auctions #4, 12/1983: 73 $357.50 • Denis W. Loring • Jack H. Robinson • McLaughlin & Robinson #4033, 9/1984: 149 $1,129 • Dr. Philip W. Ralls • Del Bland • Wes A. Rasmussen, 4/1987 • Thomas D. Reynolds.

VF-35 McLaughlin & Robinson #4369, 2/1988: 77 $1,122 • Robinson S. Brown, Jr. • Superior Stamp & Coin Co. 1/1996: 235 $1,430 • Walter Husak.

VF-30 Jeff Kierstead Rare Coins, 5/1992 • Henry T. Hettger.

VF-25 James Irish • Lillian Willins.

VF-25 Gordon J. Wrubel • Robinson S. Brown, Jr. • Dorothy Paschal. Denis W. Loring, 2/1980 • Fred H. Borcherdt

VF-25 Rodney T. Grove • Tom Morley • Dr. Philip W. Ralls, 10/1984. Wes A. Rasmussen.

VF-25 Charles E. Clapp, Sr., 3 /1921 • George H. Clapp • ANS .

VF-25 Howard R. Newcomb • J. c. Morgenthau & Co. #458, 2/1945: 235 $15 • James Kelly • Celina Coin Co. #21, 3/1947: 2043 • James Kelly • James Kelly 11/1947: 931 $11.

VF-25 Sharpness of EF-40 but a small reverse corrosion spot. Earle W. Scott, Jr. • American Auction Association 11/ 1974: 182 $425 in large lot • Frank Reineri.

VF-25 Bowers and Merena 6/1996: 90 $522.50 • W. M. "Jack" Wadlington.