Walter Breen's Encyclopedia of Early United States Cents

Obverse 3.

Reverse B. Incomplete ribbon bows.

Die states: I. Obverse as number 4, state II. None of the extensive clash marks of later states are present. Reverse repolished, removing most (but not all) of the previous clash marks. Extremely rare.

II. At least seven sets of overlapping clash marks from the leaves near the ribbon, and before the face and neck, obscuring the flaking. The reverse crack now extends through F AMERICA. Newcomb 3-Bc.

III. Clash marks are fading. Reverse crumbling begins atop diagonal of N(T). Newcomb 3-Bd. See Remarks.

Equivalents: Proskey 11. Doughty 174. McGirk 6A. Ross 1-J. Newcomb 4. Sheldon 227. EAC 5. Encyclopedia 1750.

High Rarity 2.

Remarks: Sheldon nicknamed this the "cobweb variety" from the clash marks of state II.

State ill coins show axial misalignment; the weak areas are at lowest curl and STA. A later state may exist with a rim break at upper right obverse.

An example was seen at the 1989 EAC convention with the obverse off center and a reverse indent: another blank underlay this at striking. Interesting and unusual.

Condition Census:

MS-61 Carl Wurtzbach • Charles R. Mathewson, 1945 • Dr. William H. Sheldon, 4/19/1972 • R. E. Naftzger, Jr., 2/23/1992 • Eric Streiner • Jay Parrino (The Mint) • Superior Stamp & Coin Co. 5/1995: 2026 • Jay Parrino (The Mint), 4/16/1996 • W. M. "Jack" Wadlington. Obverse and reverse illustrated in Noyes.

AU-55 Alfred Bonard • Stack's 1/1969: 181 $375 • Stack's, 12/22/1971 • George V. Nelson. Stack's 411977: 1067 $850 • C. Douglas Smith. State II.

AU-50 C. H. Stearns • Mayflower Coin Auctions 121 1966: 349 $325 • C. Douglas Smith • Del Bland • Stan Pierce.

AU-50 Howard R. Newcomb • J. C. Morgenthau & Co. #458, 2/1945: 343 $33 • James Kelly. Celina Coin Co. #21, 3/1947: 2044. Obverse illustrated in Newcomb.

AU-50 Stack's 6/1981: 146 $1,800.

AU-50 Bradbury K. Thurlow • Mayflower Coin Auctions 12/1967: 239 $140.

AU-50 Samuel W. Wolfson • Stack's 5/1963: 51 $250.

EF-45 Some weak striking. Charles E. Clapp, Sr., 7/ 1924 • George H. Clapp • ANS. State III. Reverse illustrated in Newcomb.

EF-45 Burdette G. Johnson (formerly St. Louis Stamp & Coin Co.) • Charles Green (R. Green), 3/3/1950 • C. Douglas Smith • Herman Halpern • Stack's 3/1988: 203 $990 • Walter Dudgeon.

EF-45 Robert J. Kissner • Stack's 6/1975: 344 $500 • C. Douglas Smith • Larry Whitlow (Ford City Coins & Stamps, Ltd.)

EF-45 ANS.

EF-45 Howard R Newcomb • J. C. Morgenthau & Co. #458,2/1945: 342 $22.

EF-45Mi1ton A. Holmes • Stack's 10/1960: 1423 $57. "MM."

EF-45 David M. Bullowa FPL, 10/1952 as "Unc." $50.