Walter Breen's Encyclopedia of Early United States Cents

Obverse 4. Again reground to remove clash marks. Shoulder loop is faint and fragmentary, later fading out. Obverse border usually weak.

Reverse J. NI are high. Spine from adjacent leaf tip pierces stemless outer berry at E(D), pinning it to the leaf
above. 0 below F and leans left. Fraction bar is close to 100.

Die states: As noted. McGirk 10D. Newcomb 5-H.

Equivalents: McGirk 10D. Ross 21:9-1. Newcomb 8. Sheldon 250. EAC 8. Encyclopedia 1754.

Rarity 3.

Remarks: Apparently discovered by Dr. S. T. Millard, and first described by McGirk.

Layout of the fraction resembles number 3.

Sheldon called this "One of the most beautiful coins of the year and one of the three varieties most frequently seen in Mint State," ( Penny Whimsy, p. 300.) Apparently here, as in 1794 number 50, undue thinness (even with attenuation of details) was an attractant for the Good Doctor.

As for "frequently seen in Mint State:" there was apparently a tiny hoard of mint state specimens, but many must have been carelessly handled by date and type collectors, as the census shows only five Mint State examples with one of these currently untraced.

Condition Census:

MS-63 A private collection • Thomas L. Elder 4/1920: 1357 $42.50 • G. Kraft • Henry C. Hines • Dr. William H. Sheldon, 4/19 /1972 • R. E. Naftzger, Jr., 2/23/1992 • Eric Streiner • Jay Parrino (The Mint).

MS-63 Listed as MS70 in Penny Whimsy; present whereabouts unknown. Obverse and reverse illustrated in Early American Cents and in Penny Whimsy.

MS-61 T. Bishop Disney • Peter Mougey • William H. Woodin • Thomas L. Elder #43, 9/1910: 54 $10.25 • S. H. Chapman • Dr. Christian A. Allenburger • B. Max Mehl #111, 3/1948: 542 $18 • Charles J. Dupont • Stack's 9/1954: 429 $260 • C. Douglas Smith • Dr. Robert J. Shalowitz • Herbert I. Melnick and Numisco 11/1982: 436 • Dr. Robert J. Shalowitz • Robert Levine • Auction USA 2/1990: 13 $6,600 • Anthony Terranova • Dr. Robert J. Shalowitz • Jack H. Beymer.

MS-61 Henry L. Jewett • S. H. Chapman 6/1909: 1673 $14.50 • H. o. Granberg • William H. Woodin. The United States Coin Co. 5/1915: 237 $11 • Howard R. Newcomb • J. C. Morgenthau & Co. #458, 2/1945: 412 $60 • T. James Clarke, 10/1954 • R. E. Naftzger, Jr. • A. Kosoff 10/1959: 81 $380 • Louis Helfenstein • Lester Merkin 8/1964: 32 $1,150 • unknown • Mayflower Coin Auctions 6/1966: 1413 $525 • unknown • Harmer Rooke Numismatists, Ltd. 9/1980: 67 $3,600 • "LSD." Obverse and reverse illustrated in Newcomb.

MS-60 An American collection • Glendining & Co., Ltd. (London) 12/1965: 642.

AU-55 Howard R. Newcomb, privately • Dr. James O. Sloss, 9/1958 • R. E. Naftzger, Jr. • A. Kosoff 10/1959:82 $600. Emanuel Taylor, 10/1960 • R. E. Naftzger, Jr. • New Netherlands Coin Co. 11/1973: 566 $1,800 • Douglas Kaselitz • Gordon J. Wrubel • Myles Z. Gerson • Jerry A. Bobbe, 5/10/1974 • C. Douglas Smith, 3/30/ 1992. Eric Streiner • C. Douglas Smith. Obverse and reverse illustrated in Noyes.

AU-55 S. H. & H. Chapman collection • S. H. & H. Chapman 10/1879: 458 $10 • John W. Haseltine • unknown • Ed. Frossard #25, 11/1882: 192 $5.50 • T. Harrison Garrett • Robert Garrett, 1919 • John Work Garrett • Johns Hopkins University • Bowers and Ruddy Galleries 11/1979: 107$3,400. Kevin Lipton Rare Coins • New England Rare Coin Auctions 4/1980: 906 as "MS-65" $7,750.

AU-55 Charles J. Dupont • Stack's 9/1954: 430 $220 • Benjamin Stack (Imperial Coin Co.) • Mrs. R. Henry Norweb • Bowers and Merena 11/1988: 2819 $5,060 • Larry Hanks (Hanks & Associates) • Kenneth Alterman • Larry Hanks (Hanks & Associates) • Jim McGuigan, 9/26/1996 • W. M. "Jack" Wadlington.

AU-55 Manfra, Tordella & Brookes, 3/1976.

AU-55 Lee Numismatics International, 1979 • unknown • Superior Galleries 10/1990: 3385 $4,620 .

AU-55 A. H. Baldwin & Sons, Ltd. (London) • New Netherlands Coin Co. #56, 6/1962: 511 $185 • C. Douglas Smith • Del Bland • George W. "Hank" Rodgers.