Walter Breen's Encyclopedia of Early United States Cents

Obverse 27. UB are close, BE are more distant, and RT are slightly high. Y distant and low, with broken serifs on its base (corrected) and on both arms (not corrected). Usually recognized by the rim break of state III.

Reverse BB. Type of 1799. E(D) is normal, E(S) is narrow and lacking its left base. D is high and C(E) is normal. Both pairs of leaves at (N)T are free of the wreath stem. Berries are a little larger than usual. Double center dot, the second smaller, above and to right of the main one.

Edge: Plain edge (PE).

Die states: I. Perfect obverse die: no clash marks and no cracks. Reverse has light clash mark left of O(N) and c(E). Rare. Clapp 26-W.

II. Reverse has four sets of clash marks, at first faint. ID. Cracked through the tops of RTY. Clash marks below the chin. Reverse clash marks near UNIT. Traces of a crack beginning through the tops of NIT. Rare.

IV. Rim break on RTY, extending from the curve of R to the left top of Y. Reverse normally aligned.

V. The rim break now extends from the upright of R to above the right top of v; later, above E and above the space to right of Y. Clapp 26b-W. Reverse rotated opposite its position in states I and II.

VI. Rim break now touches both tops of Y. Crack through tops of NITE. Clapp 26b-Wb. Struck after 1799/8 number 1.

VII. Cracked from the rim through top of L with a branch through I to the rim.

VIII. Rim break on L, touching tip of I. The first rim break extends above the entire top of E. Clapp 26c-Wb.

IX. Reverse rim break at CA. Extremely rare. (Breen, "Cent Collectors' Forum," Numismatist, June 1957, p. 659.)

Equivalents: Doughty 132. Proskey 24. McGirk 20A. Clapp 33. Sheldon 173. EAC 38. Encyclopedia 1732.

Rarity 3.

Remarks: The two 1799 overdate varieties came just before and after late strikings of this variety. In early states the reverse comes misaligned by rotation to various angles. In later states the alignment is normal. This suggests a loose set screw, not a broken cylinder.

Condition Census:

MS-61 Col. James W. Ellsworth, 3/1923 • Wayte Raymond, 3/1923 • George H. Clapp • ANS. State III. Obverse and reverse illustrated in Clapp.

MS-61 From Europe • Lester Merkin, privately • unknown • Bowers and Ruddy Galleries FPLs, 1973-1975 $1,995 • Bowers and Ruddy Galleries 2/1976: 1068 $1,800 • unknown • Heritage Numismatic Auctions 21 1994: 6685 $2,860 • Anthony Terranova, Thomas D. Reynolds, and Chris Victor-McCawley (CVM), 3/15/1994 • Robinson S. Brown, Jr. • Superior Stamp & Coin Co. 1/1996: 239 $5,775 • Walter Husak.

MS-60 George H. Blake • W. Elliot Woodward #73, 4/1885: 791 $4 • unknown • New Netherlands Coin Co. • New Netherlands Coin Co. #41, 9/1953: 264 $31 • Dorothy Paschal, 1972 • Robinson S. Brown, Jr. • Superior Galleries 9/1986: 244 $3,520 • C. Douglas Smith. State 1.

MS-60 Dr. Henry W. Beckwith • Elmer S. Sears, 1915 • David Proskey • Henry C. Hines • Dr. William H. Sheldon. C. Douglas Smith, 3/1976 • R. E. Naftzger, Jr. 2/ 23/1992. Eric Streiner • Dennis Mendelson • Thomas D. Reynolds. Obverse and reverse illustrated in Early American Cents and in Penny Whimsy.

AU-55 Richard B. Winsor • S. H. & H. Chapman 12/1895: 858 $11 • Wayte Raymond • George H. Earle, Jr. • Henry Chapman 6/1912: 3413 $11 • S. H. Chapman • David Proskey • Henry C. Hines - Dr. William H. Sheldon, 4/19/1972 • R. E. Naftzger, Jr., 2/23/1992 • Eric Streiner. Obverse illustrated in Early American Cents and in Penny Whimsy.

AU-55 Charles I. Bushnell • Lorin G. Parmelee • S. H.& H. Chapman 6/1882: 2638 $10 • George W. Cogan • William Cutler Atwater • B. Max Mehl #108, 6/1946: 23 $62.50. R. E. Naftzger, Jr., 3/7 /1977. C. Douglas Smith. Obverse and reverse illustrated in Noyes.

AU-55 Dr. Edward Maris • Harlan P. Smith 6/1886: 275 $6.10.

AU-50 Sharpness of Mint State but two obverse nicks. From Europe • Lester Merkin 6/1971: 555 $550 • C. Douglas Smith • Dr. Robert J. Shalowitz • Jason Carter (Carter Numismatics, Ltd.) • M & G Auctions 1/1997: 226 $4,840 • Steven K. Ellsworth.

AU-50 With a large planchet defect on reverse. Virgil M. Brand • Henry Co Hines • Homer K. Downing • 1952 ANA (New Netherlands Coin Co. #38): 1825 $30 • C. Douglas Smith • Gordon J. Wrubel • Chuck Furjanic • Anthony Terranova • Thomas D. Reynolds.