Walter Breen's Encyclopedia of Early United States Cents

Obverse 13. Divided date 18 03. Linear die chip about 2 millimeters long near the rim opposite the nose.

Reverse Q. Small letters and fraction which is spaced 100. Stemless berry nearest E(D) held between the leaf above and a spine emerging from the leaf tip below. Repunching on M with an extra serif showing on the right upright. Leaf point positioned below right upright of D.

Die states: 1. Perfect obverse die. So rare as to be controversial; most specimens reported have been in low grades.

II. Long die defect or crack slants down to the right from the field opposite the neck, down through the bust, to the lowest drapery fold. Newcomb 14b-P.

III Reverse arc crack from the rim down through STA and up through top of (A)T to the rim between TE. On earlier strikes this crack is thin, later it is thick and heavy.

Extremely rare. "Newcomb 14b-Pb."

Probably exists with a rim break on STATE. Equivalents:

Proskey 6. Doughty 184. McGirk 13A.

Ross 6:4-F. Newcomb 20. Sheldon 262. EAC 21. Encyclopedia 1754.

Low Rarity 4.

Remarks: Usually found in low grades.

Newcomb had rated it "Very rare." In Early American Cents, Sheldon said he had only seen eight or nine, in Penny Whimsy the total was up to 18. Presently, one collector has a hoard of at least 76 specimens, mostly Fine or below.

Condition Census:

VF-35 Sharpness of EF-45 but a dark lightly rough area on the reverse and light smoothing on the neck. David Proskey • Henry C. Hines • Dr. William H. Sheldon, 4/19/ 1972 • R. E. Naftzger, Jr., 2/23/1992 • Eric Streiner, 8/13/1992 • Robinson S. Brown, Jr. • Superior Stamp & Coin Co. 1/1996: 360 $5,280 • Thomas D. Reynolds. State II. Reverse illustrated in Early American Cents and in Penny Whimsy. Obverse and reverse illustrated in Noyes.

VF-30 John P. Young, 4/1945 • George H. Clapp • ANS. State II.

VF-30 Howard R. Newcomb, 1940 • Willard C. Blaisdell • Lillian Willins.

VF-30 Howard R. Newcomb • J. C. Morgenthau & Co. #458, 2/1945: 446 $10.50 • Milton A. Holmes • Stack's 10/1960: 1447 $47.50 • C. Douglas Smith. A. Kosoff, 12/ 1962 • R. E. Naftzger, Jr. • New Netherlands Coin Co. 11/1973: 579 $350 • William K. Raymond • William R. T. Smith • Jack H. Beymer.

VF-25 Sharpness of VF-35 but obverse scratches. Henry C.Hines • Homer K. Downing • 1952 ANA (New Netherlands Coin Co. #38): 1960 $40 • C. Douglas Smith. State II. Reverse illustrated in Newcomb.

VF-25 Sharpness of EF-40 but burnished. Barney Bluestone, 8/1942 • Judge Thomas L. Gaskill • New Netherlands Coin Co., privately 11/1956 • Dorothy Paschal, 1972 • Robinson S. Brown, Jr. • Superior Galleries 9/1986: 385 $506 • David Liljestrand (Dave's Coin & Stamp Co.).

VF-25 Charles R. Mathewson • Robert Le Blanc (Le Blanc Numismatics) • Denis W. Loring, 6/1982 • Fred H. Borcherdt.

F-15 Earle W. Scott, Jr. • American Auction Association 11/1974: 189 $310 in large lot • Frank Reinari • Michael Sugamele.

F-15 Ed Shapiro, 1/1979 • Del Bland • Jack H. Beymer, 3/30/1979 • Frank H. Stillinger.

F-15 Sharpness of EF-45 but obverse porous and reverse corroded. Purchased unattributed by James E. Long, Jr. (J. E. L. Coins), 5/11/1986 • Frank H. Stillinger.

F-15 James Fairfield (Fairfield Rare Coins) • Bowers and Merena Galleries FPLs, 1995-1996 $2,295 • unidentified collector • Bowers and Merena Galleries.

F-15 Oscar R. Tompkins • Thos. P. Warfield • Associated Coin Auction Co. 10/1955: 369 $39 • Dorothy Paschal.