Walter Breen's Encyclopedia of Early United States Cents

Obverse 4. Low 8 leans right.

Reverse D. Leaves nearly touch tops of 0 and E. Leaf point opposite serif of D. High leaf point is below the left tip of (E)S. Base of E above T-S. ME are joined.

Die states: Cracked through BERTY, as number 6 state III. Newcomb 4b-D.

Equivalents: Newcomb 7. Sheldon NC-2. EAC 7. Encyclopedia 1750.

Rarity 6.

Remarks: Apparently discovered by Robert D. Book in 1924. Only this one example was known to Dr. Sheldon in 1949. Two more had been found by the time Penny Whimsy was published in 1958. Another dozen have been identified during the next 39 years, an average of one every three years. Another instance of the danger in the "non-collectible" designation. Struck briefly between number 6 states III and IV; Most likely while reverse B was being polished to remove clash marks.

Condition Census:

EF-40 Sharpness of AU-50 but small nicks and minor roughness. L. P. Jones • Thomas L. Elder 6/1922: 556 • Robert D. Book, 5/1930 • George H. Clapp • ANS. Reverse illustrated in Newcomb. Obverse and reverse illustrated in Noyes.

VF-35 Purchased on 4/4/1956 from Gimbel's Coin Department (Robert Friedberg, New York City) by C. Douglas Smith, 12/1956 • Dorothy Paschal, 1/1957 • Dr. William H. Sheldon, 4/19/1972 • R. E. Naftzger, Jr., 2/23/1992 • Eric Streiner, 4/22/1992 • C. Douglas Smith.

VG-10 Purchased unattributed in a group of large cents by Harold W. Cuddy, Sr., 12/1/1990 • Richard Mozdziesz.

VG-10 Henry Stouffer. John M. Foreman, Sr., 3/1982 • Denis W. Loring, 4/1982 • Robinson S. Brown, Jr. • Superior Galleries 9/1986: 339 $4,620 • Frank H. Stillinger.

VG-8 Sharpness of VF-20 but rough and black. Jess Peters #75, 11/1974: 2640 $1,500 • William R. T. Smith, 10/22/1975 • C. Douglas Smith, 4/22/1992 • Eric Streiner • Superior Galleries 10/1992: 106 • Henry T. Hettger • Grant O. Reed.

VG-8 Sharpness of VF-20 but pitted. Purchased unattributed in 2/1984 from a local coin dealer by Ron Gjertson.

VG-7 Sharpness of F-12 but finely porous. Purchased unattributed in 5/1971 from Marshall Field & Co. (Chicago) by John D. Wright.

VG-7 Purchased unattributed in 1958 by Kenneth W. Rendell, 1958 • C. Douglas Smith, 6/1972 • Denis W. Loring, 5/1974 • Dr. Robert J. Shalowitz • John W. Adams • C. Douglas Smith, 6/19/1975 • Philip Van Cleave. Kagin's Numismatic Auctions #340, 1/1986: 5256 $2,090 • an unidentified eastern collector.

VG-7 From an unattributed group of large cents consigned to Downie-Lepczyk Auctions, Ltd. #64, 12/1985: 829 $1,450 • Robert E. Matthews • Superior Galleries d 5/1989: 432 $4,180 • Daniel W. Holmes, Jr.

VG-7 Purchased unattributed by a dealer and sold to Henry T. Hettger • John R. "Bob" Grellman, Jr., 2/1990 • Wes A. Rasmussen.

VG-7 Paul W. Paterson • Thomas D. Reynolds, 6/1996 • Dr. Bruce Reinoehl.

G-6 Purchased unattributed on 11/24/1995 from Ray's Coins by Michael Sugamele.

G-6 Sharpness of F-12 but reverse corrosion; cleaned. Lawrence L. Allen, 1/3/1969 • C. F. Gordon, Jr., 1/10/ 1979 • Dr. Thomas S. Chalkley • Superior Galleries 1/1990: 451 $3,520 • John R. Frankenfield.

G-5 Purchased unattributed by Sunny Miller, 3/8/ 1997 • Thomas D. Reynolds.

G-4 Sharpness of G-6 but a heavy edge dent and bent.

Purchased unattributed by Clinton Hollins, 11/2/1976 • Enoch Blackwell.

G-4 Purchased unattributed in 10/1991 by Dean Pollack • Chris Victor-McCawley (CVM) • Larry Briggs Rare Coins.

AG-3 Sharpness of VG-8 but numerous dents on obverse.

John Pawling • New Netherlands Coin Co. #39, 11/1952: 437 $97.50 • Dorothy Paschal • Dr. William H. Sheldon, 1/1957 • C. Douglas Smith • Kenneth W. Rendell. Old Colony Coin Auctions 10/1958: 910 $35 • Dorothy Paschal • Robinson S. Brown, Jr. • Superior Stamp & Coin Co. 1/1996: 323 $935.

FR-2 Purchased unattributed in 11/1987 at a Philadelphia coin show by Fred H. Borcherdt.

No other examples have been reported.