Walter Breen's Encyclopedia of Early United States Cents

Obverse 31. Small 7 with a high serif, as on the next. u are close with L minutely low, and bases of IB nearly touching. Junction of the forelock and brow is minutely right of the right upright of T. "Peaked hair wave" (angular contour below E) is hard to see on low-grade examples.

Reverse GG.

Edge: Plain edge (PE).

Die states: 1. Perfect obverse. The reverse clash marks are faint and may not show on worn examples.

II. Double clash marks on both sides, which fade on the obverse. Faint vertical lines through LIBERT. Clapp 32-EE.

Equivalents: Clapp 43. Sheldon 183. EAC 44. Encyclopedia 1729.

High Rarity 5.

Remarks: Discovered by Elmer Sears in 1919. The discovery coin is pictured on the Clapp plate and was, in 1931, still the only one known.

The small punch (found on obverses 31, 32 and some 1800 overdates) has a much higher, taller serif than the large 7 found on earlier 1798 obverses. Unfortunately, most specimens of the present number are weak at the date. The Dr. French coin (lot 198) with allegedly "cancelled dies" proved to have reverse scratches.

Condition Census:

EF-45 Found by a stamp dealer and sold in 1/1958 to Kenneth W. Rendell, 2/1958 • Dorothy Paschal. • Dr. William H. Sheldon, 4/19/1972. • R. E. Naftzger, Jr., 2/23/1992 Eric Streiner, 4/2/1992 • Thomas D. Reynolds. Obverse and reverse illustrated in Noyes.

EF-40 From France • Heritage Rare Coin Galleries, 4/27/1988 • Dr. Philip W. Ralls, 2/28/1990. • C. Douglas Smith. State I.

VF-35 From Europe • Heritage Rare Coin Galleries (discovered by Del Bland misattributed as "S-182") .• Superior Galleries 2/1992: 877 $11,000. • John R. Frankenfield.

VF-30 Edward Janis • Richard Picker, 12/1964. Jackson C. Storm, 7/31/1984 • Denis W. Loring, 9/1984 • Thomas D. Reynolds.

VF-30 Obtained in trade from Dr. William H. Sheldon in 1958 by C. Douglas Smith, 3/30/1992 • Eric Streiner • Superior Galleries 10/1992: 104 $5,775 Robinson S. Brown, Jr. • Superior Stamp & Coin Co. 1/1996: 250 $4,620 • Walter Husak. State I. Obverse illustrated in Early American Cents and in Penny Whimsy.

VF-25 Purchased unattributed by William K. Raymond. • James F. Ruddy • Abner Kreisberg, 11/1967. • R. E. Naftzger, Jr. • New Netherlands Coin Co. 11/1973: 499 $450. • William K. Raymond, 11/1973. • William R. T. Smith, 1/1975 • Myles Z. Gerson, 3/1977 • Denis W. Loring, 12/1977. C. Douglas Smith, 8/1980 • Fred H. Borcherdt.

VF-25 J. J. Teaparty, 6/1970 • Denis W. Loring, 6/ 1970 • Dorothy Paschal, 1977 • Myles Z. Gerson. Dr. Philip W. Ralls.

VF-20 Dr. George P. French, 3/21/1929. • B. Max Mehl FPL, 1929: 198 as "D-124" $12.50" Henry A. Sternberg. T. James Clarke, 1944 • B. Max Mehl • B. Max Mehl #114, 6/1951: 91 as "D-124# $8 • unknown • Lester Merkin, 2/3/1973 • C. Douglas Smith • Darwin B. Palmer, Jr., 1973 • Robinson S. Brown, Jr. • Superior Galleries 9/1986: 256 $1,265 • C. Douglas Smith • Herman Halpern • Stack's 3/1988: 166 $1,870 • Jack H. Beymer.

F-15 Sharpness of VF-25 but numerous nicks. Raymond Gallo, 10/1960 • R. E. Naftzger, Jr., 6/1970 • Denis W. Loring, 6/1970 • Robinson S. Brown, Jr. • Jack H. Beymer • Albert Ault • Alfred K. Nippert, Jr.

F-15 Sharpness of VF-25 but some roughness and edge dents. Purchased unattributed by James Dehne, 1/4/1989 • Douglas F. Bird • Dan Demeo.

F-12 Sharpness of VF-25 but scratched. Elmer S. Sears, 4/13/1929 • George H. Clapp. ANS. State II.

VG-10 Purchased unattributed by Dr. James O. Sloss, 9/1958 • R. E. Naftzger, Jr. • Dorothy Paschal, 7/1970 • Denis W. Loring, 9/1970 • Philip Van Cleave. Kagin's Numismatic Auctions #340, 1/1986: 5199 $715 • Jack H. Robinson • Superior Galleries 1/1989: 378 $1,485 • Robinson S. Brown, Jr.

VG-10 Purchased in 6/1973 as "S-184# by Dr. Allan S. Pirnique • Early American Coppers 5/1981: 166 $425 • Frank H. Stillinger.