Walter Breen's Encyclopedia of Early United States Cents

Obverse 22. ER are slightly closer together than on obverse 20; LIBERTY is more closely spaced than on obverse 21. Unlike those, point of 1 is slightly nearer the hair than the curl. Usually identified by the rim break of state III.

Reverse T.

Edge: Plain edge (PE) and double-flange edge (DFE). Die states: I. Perfect obverse. Very rare, unknown to Clapp and reported about 1955, confirmed 1956.

II. "Retained cud" in low relief left of L. Extremely rare.

III. Lumpy rim break left of L. Clapp 24b-U.

IV. Reverse with at least six sets of clash marks. Traces of repunching on CA have faded out.

V. Cracked through MERI; clash marks from dentils have given the tops of ER(I) a "scalloped" look. Clapp 24b-Ub.

VI. Cracked from the rim above T through the base of y to the rim opposite the chin. The rim break is larger. Clapp 24c-Ub. Very rare.

Equivalents: Doughty 133. Proskey 25. McGirk 8A.

Clapp 31. Sheldon 171. EAC 30. Encyclopedia 1732.

Rarity 4.

Remarks: The distinction among worn perfect die examples of obverses 20 and 22 is one of the most difficult to make in the early cents aside from 1800. Comparison with the photographs should suffice.

Condition Census:

AU-50 Purchased unattributed from a "dishonest" Brooklyn, N. Y. coin dealer for $6.00 by Homer K. Downing • 1952 ANA (New Netherlands Coin Co. #38): 1822 $105 • C. Douglas Smith. State III. Obverse illustrated in Early American Cents and in Penny Whimsy.

EF-45 Henry Chapman • Henry Chapman 6/1909: 750 $13 • Clarence S. Bement • Henry Chapman 5/1916: 305 $25 • Heny C. Hines • Dr. William H. Sheldon, 4/19/ 1972 • R. E. Naftzger, Jr., 2/23/1992 • Eric Streiner, 4/29/1993 • C. Douglas Smith. Reverse illustrated in Early American Cents. Obverse and reverse illustrated in Noyes. This coin is pictured on page 39 of B. Max Mehl's catalogue of the Dr. French Collection, probably from a photograph clipped from one of the Henry Chapman sales; it was not, however, in the Dr. French Collection.

EF-45 Dr. George P. French, 3/21/1929 • B. Max Mehl FPL, 1929: 213 $40 • Howard R. Newcomb, privately. Henry C. Hines • Dr. William H. Sheldon • New Netherlands Coin Co. #50, 12/1957: 1099 $170 • R. E. Naftzger, Jr. • New Netherlands Coin Co. 11/1973: 487 $200 •Robinson S. Brown, Jr., 3/1977 • Denis W. Loring, 1/1980 • C. Douglas Smith • Dr. Philip W. Ralls.

VF-35 Howard R. Newcomb • J.C. Morgenthau & Co. #458, 2/1945: 239 $40 • Judge Thomas L. Gaskill • New Netherlands Coin Co., privately 11/1956 • Dorothy Paschal, 1977. Myles Z. Gerson, 1/10/1981 • Robinson S. Brown, Jr. • Superior Stamp &. Coin Co. 1/1996: 237 $2,420 • Thomas D. Reynolds. State IV.

VF-35 J. J. Teaparty, 8/19/1978 • Denis W. Loring, 1979 • Robinson S. Brown, Jr. • Superior Galleries 9/1986: 240 $1,870 • Thomas D. Reynolds.

VF-35 With a very small planchet clip. Robert D. Book, 5/1930 • George H. Clapp • ANS. Obverse and reverse illustrated in Clapp.

VF-30 Charles E. Clapp, Sr., 7/1924 • George H. Clapp • ANS.

VF-30 Robert J. Kissner • Stack's 6/1975: 311 $210 • C. Douglas Smith, 4/1980 • Fred H. Borcherdt.

VF-30 Purchased unattributed on 11/25/1972 at the Michigan State Numismatic Society convention by Chuck Furjanic, 11/25/1972 • Gordon J. Wrubel • Ray Chatham • Glenn A. Kemp, 6/22/1986 • Del Bland, 7/1986 • Jeffrey Oliphant.

VF-30 Sharpness of EF-40 but minutely porous. Dr. George P. French, privately • Barney Bluestone, 1932 • Dr. William H. Sheldon, circa 1946 • Charles R. Mathewson, 1955 • Copley Coin Co., 10/27/1955 • C. Douglas Smith • Gordon J. Wrubel. Jerry A. Bobbe • C. Douglas Smith • 9/11/1982 • Frank H. Stillinger.

VF-25 Sharpness of EF-45 but finely porous and dark olive. Denis W. Loring, 5/1974 • Dr. Robert J. Shalowitz, 6/3/1974 • C. Douglas Smith, 8/1976 • G. Lee Kuntz • Superior Galleries 10/1991: 192 $253 • Dan Demeo.

VF-25 Sharpness of VF-35 but light porous areas on obverse. Sheraton Coin Co. • 1947 ANA (Numismatic Gallery #40): 845 $10 • Willard C. Blaisdell • R E. Naftzger, Jr. • Del Bland • C. Douglas Smith • Jack H. Beymer • Jack H. Robinson • Superior Galleries 1/1989: 347 $797.50.