Walter Breen's Encyclopedia of Early United States Cents

Obverse 14. Large date with pointed 1.

Reverse R. Small fraction. Resurrected after reverse S broke.

Die states: I. Obverse as in number 23 state V. Reverse as in number 22 state VIT. Newcomb 15c-Qe.

II. Reverse cracked from the lower rim to final 0, fraction bar, left ribbon and stem, and into clash marks inside the lower left rim. An additional crack from the base of T(ES) joins the outer left leaf and continues to the crack of state I.

Two triangular breaks form between the uppermost, and the upper inner leaves.

III. Die failure obliterates STA and dentils above; the area is no longer coplanar with neighboring areas of the die (same principle as "retained cud"). The crack of state I reaches the rim. Newcomb 15c-Qf.

Equivalents: McGirk 14E. Ross 20:12-G. Newcomb 23. Sheldon 264. EAC 23. Encyclopedia 1759.

Rarity 5.

Remarks: McGirk described his discovery from a specimen in the J. A. Walker collection. His discovery coin is not now identified.

Usually in low grades, partly from reverse die failure. Planchets are often rough.

Newcomb rated both die states "Excessively rare," for which reason generations of collectors misbelieved it an extreme rarity. In Newcomb's day few collectors attributed very worn cents.

Until the Guide Book began illustrating date elements, almost any Small Date, Small Fraction variety risked being mislabeled ''Large Date, Small Fraction. Excessively Rare" and priced accordingly. The practice has not completely died out: such is the power of wishful thinking.

Condition Census:

VF-25 James C. Macallister • Henry C. Hines, 1944 • Dr. William H. Sheldon • Carl Wurtzbach • Barney Bluestone FPL, 1947 $385 • Christian M. Petersen. Hollinbeck Coin Co., privately 8/31/1953 • C. Douglas Smith, 9/1959 • Dr. William H. Sheldon, 4/19/1972 • R. E. Naftzger, Jr., 2/23/1992 • Eric Streiner • Jay Parrino (The Mint), 4/16/1996 • W. M. "Jack" Wadlington. Obverse and reverse illustrated in Newcomb and in Noyes.

VF-20 J. J. Teaparty, 12/1973 • William K. Raymond, 12/1973 • Dr. Robert J. Shalowitz, 2/1974 • William K. Raymond, 3/1974 • J. J. Teaparty, 9/1974 • Denis W. Loring, 11/1974 • Alan J. Brotman (Numismatic Gallery), 1/1975 • Denis W. Loring, 2/1975 • R. E. Naftzger, Jr., 2/23/1992 • Eric Streiner. Obverse and reverse illustrated in Noyes.

VF-20 Purchased unattributed on 11/13/1954 from Charles French (French's) "junk box" by Dr. Kenneth J. Sartoris, 5/1972 • Del Bland, 5/19/1972 • C. Douglas Smith, 12/1977 • Denis W. Loring, 10/1979 • C. Douglas Smith. State II.

VF-20 Purchased as "Large Date, Large Fraction," circa 1970 at a Las Vegas coin show by Del Bland • George Ramont.

F-15 Sharpness of VF-25 but porous. C. David Pierce. Hollinbeck Stamp and Coin Co. #16, 11/1944: 1872 $175 • Christian M. Petersen • Hollinbeck Coin Co. • Hollinbeck Coin Co. #214, 10/1957: 324 • Hollinbeck Coin Co. • Hollinbeck Kagin Coin Co. #247, 2/1963: 2211 • Hollinbeck Kagin Coin Co .• Kagin's Numismatic Auctions #313, 9/1978: 153 $1,525 • C. Douglas Smith, 10/1979 • Denis W. Loring, 3/1/1985 • C. Douglas Smith • Herman Halpern. Stack's 3/1988: 248 $12,100 • Glen R. Griffith.

F-15 Sharpness of VF-35 but finely rough, the obverse cleaned and retoned. Owned for many years by Herbert Schneider • Warren Schneider, 5/13/1996 • Henry T. Hettger.

F-12 David O. Hughes, 6/14/1946 $140 • R. E. Naftzger, Jr. Obverse and reverse illustrated in Noyes.

F-12 Sharpness of VF-20 but minutely rough. Henry C. Colvin. French's #80, 10/1962: 144 $310 • Edward C. Eberspacher • 1977 ANA (Kagin's Numismatic Auctions #309): 351 $1,050 • William R. T. Smith • C. Douglas Smith • William R. T. Smith • Darwin B. Palmer, Jr. • John M. Ward, Jr. • Darwin B. Palmer, Jr. • Paul Langseth, 4/1995 • Wes A. Rasmussen.

VG-10 Dr. William H. Sheldon • C. Douglas Smith • Edward H. Schwartz • A. Kosoff 10/1961: 323 $450 • R. E. Naftzger, Jr., 1/1970 • Denis W. Loring, 7/22/1970 • C. Douglas Smith, 5/1972 • Del Bland, 6/1972 • Denis W. Loring, 12/1977 • C. Douglas Smith • Darwin B. Palmer, Jr., 3/1979 • Denis W. Loring.

VG-10 Sharpness of VF-35 but scratches and corrosion. Purchased from an antique dealer in Vermont in 4/1993 by Gerald Silbert (Marblehead Coins) • Bowers and Merena 11/1994: 2057 not sold • Gerald Silbert (Marblehead Coins) • Peter Boisvert.

VG-10 Dorothy Paschal • Darwin B. Palmer, Jr. • Fred H. Borcherdt.

VG-10 Sharpness of VF-35 but granular and dark. Purchased unattributed at a coin show by John R. "Bob" Crellman, Jr. • Dr. Robert J. Shalowitz • Darwin B. Palmer, Jr. • John M. Ward, Jr.

VG-8 Del Bland • Jules Reiver, 8/12/1969 • C. Douglas Smith, 10/1972 • Del Bland • Dr. Dane B. Nielsen • Dr. Willard J. Carmel, Jr., 10/2/1981 • G. Lee Kuntz • Superior Galleries 10/1991: 292 $9,900 • Larry Briggs Rare Coins • Bowers and Merena Galleries, privately • Dr. John A. Van Arsdall • Bowers and Merena 1/1993: 232 not sold • Dr. John A. Van Arsdall.

VG-8 Sharpness of F-15 but porous, faint scratches and small nicks. Robert D. Book, 5/1930 • George H. Clapp • ANS. State 1.

VG-8 Sharpness of VF-20 but rough. Purchased unattributed by Robert Reithe (Main Line Coin & Stamp) • Richard Gross.

VG-8 Henry A. Sternberg • J. C. Morgenthau & Co. #278, 4/1932: 453 $51 • George H. Clapp • ANS • (no longer in ANS collection).

VG-8 C. Douglas Smith • Darwin B. Palmer, Jr. • William R. T. Smith • J. J. Teaparty H. J. Hoffman.

VG-8 Stone's Collector's Shop (Boston), 12/1971 • Denis W. Loring, 11/1972 • Darwin B. Palmer, Jr., 9/27/ 1973 • Jeffrey M. Peck, 5/26/1976 • Dr. Robert J. Shalowitz.

VG-8 Purchased in 10/1990 as "5-265" by Earl Roberts for Jonathan K. Kern • James E. Long, Jr. (J. E. L. Coins).