Walter Breen's Encyclopedia of Early United States Cents

Obverse 23. Large 8, diagnostic with the Head of 1799. Y is slightly low and distant from T. Minute die chip (Shel-don calls it a "whisker," Clapp calls it a nick in the die) below the chin; another below the drapery.

Reverse U. Type of 1799. Left stem points to the space between UN (usually to right bottom of u). E(S) is high and leans to the right, its left base short; normal bases to F; pointed serif to c(E) as on reverses P and EE. In UNITED, the left pendant of T is irregular and D is high. In STATES, (A)T was punched inverted (rotated 180°), then corrected, heavy and low. The inner pair of leaves under (N)T is well away from the stem and the outer pair overlaps the stem. Small center dot.

Edge: Plain edge (PE).

Die states: 1. Perfect dies. Clapp 21-R.

II. Light clash marks at the throat and in the wreath

III. Heavy crack from the rim between IC through two leaf tips to the outer berry below R. Clapp 21-Rb. Extremely rare.

Equivalents: Doughty 118. Clapp 25. Sheldon 165.

EAC 31. Encyclopedia 1727.

Low Rarity 4.

Remarks: The blundered T (misidentified by Clapp and Sheldon as a die chip) reflects the need to strengthen almost every letter by repunching-leaving plenty of opportunity for error.

This large 8 is apparently not the one used on the Head of '97 obverses, but one meant for half eagle dies: another blunder.

Condition Census:

EF-40 Howard R. Newcomb • J. C. Morgenthau & Co. #458, 2/1945: 228 $35 • George H. Clapp. ANS •Dr. William H. Sheldon • Dorothy Paschal, 1977 • Denis W. Loring, 12/1977 • Robinson S. Brown, Jr. • Superior Galleries 9/1986: 233 $3,740. State II. Reverse illustrated in Clapp, in Early American Cents, and in Penny Whimsy. Obverse and reverse illustrated in Noyes.

VF-35 With some blunt striking on end of the bust, lower curls, and upper reverse. Sharpness of EF-45 but some small nicks, scratches, and faint porosity. Raymond Gallo, 10/1960 • R. E. Naftzger, Jr. • New Netherlands Coin Co. 11/1973: 480 $180. Denis W. Loring, 5/1974. Dr. Robert J. Shalowitz • Myles Z. Gerson • Denis W. Loring • Thomas D. Reynolds, 7/23/1992 • Robinson S. Brown, Jr. • Superior Stamp & Coin Co. 1/1996: 230 $3,960 • Walter Husak. State 1.

VF-35 John P. Young • M. H. Bolender #181, 9/1951: 124 $17 • C. Douglas Smith, 12/1956 • Dr. William H. Sheldon, 4/19/1972 • R. E. Naftzger, Jr., 2/23/1992 • Eric Streiner, 4/2/1992 • Thomas D. Reynolds.

VF-25 Sharpness of VF-35 but some reverse corrosion.

Purchased unattributed in 11/1971 at a Kansas City coin show by Darwin B. Palmer, Jr; 9/17/1972 • C. Douglas Smith.

VF-25 Richard Saslow • Rare Coin Company of America 1/1969: 93 $110.

VF-20 Sharpness of VF-30 but two obverse scratches and other surface marks. Sheraton Coin Co. • 1947 ANA (Numismatic Gallery #40): 848 $7.50 • Willard C. Blaisdell • Denis W. Loring • Robinson S. Brown, Jr. • Denis W. Loring. Fred H. Borcherdt.

VF-20 Bowers and Merena 9/1984: 832 $1,100 in large lot. VF-20 Richard C. Striley.

VF-20 Sharpness of EF-40 but lightly porous with a long obverse scratch. Frank H. Masters, Jr. • Rare Coin Company of America 5/1971: 116 $175 • to a mail bidder but returned to Rare Coin Company of America, privately • William R. T. Smith.

F-15 Sharpness of VF-25 but many small handling marks; cleaned and recolored. Purchased unattributed in 1967 by Garry Fitzgerald, 5/1967 • C. Douglas Smith, 12/9/1983 • Jack H. Robinson • Superior Galleries 1/1989: 331 $1,980 • C. Douglas Smith, 4/22/1992 • Eric Streiner • Superior Galleries 10/1992: 97 $242 • Chris Victor McCawley (CVM).

F-15 Purchased unattributed circa 1904 from a London dealer's stock by David Proskey • Henry C. Hines • Dr. William H. Sheldon • C. Douglas Smith. Reverse illustrated in Noyes.

F-15 Philip G. Straus • Stack's 5/1959: 166 $22 • C. Douglas Smith, 10/2/1982 • Frank H. Stillinger.

F-15 Purchased unattributed in 4/1982 from Worthy Coin Co. by Dr. Philip W. Ralls, 3/21/1987. C. Douglas Smith, 4/29/1993 • Thomas D. Reynolds.

F-15 Del Bland, 5/1957 • Wm. H. Smith (Eureka Coin Shop) • Dr. Charles L. Ruby, 12/1972 • Superior Stamp & Coin Co. • Superior Galleries 2/1974: 507 $90.

F-15 Purchased unattributed circa 1982 from an A. C. "Hance" Jaquett auction by Clyde Draper.

F-15 Thomas L. Elder, 2/1923 • George H. Clapp. Dr. William H. Sheldon • ANS.

F-15 Dr. James O. Sloss • A. Kosoff 10/1959: 40 $41.