Walter Breen's Encyclopedia of Early United States Cents

Copper Restrike

Obverse: Same as 1803 number 20 but severely rusted and more extensively cracked, reannealed, altered to 1804, ground down to remove some rust (which promptly reappeared), and sharpened in various details. In the date, 1 is recut with a flat top and broad base, 8 has been recut with the new 8 being of a different style (center stroke thick, unlike the original), the new 0 is narrower with thinner base and top, and part of the curve of 3 is left of the base of 4 with the corner of 3 right of the top of 4.

Reverse: Same as 1820 reverse L (Newcomb 12) but badly worn, rusted, ground down to remove rust, and retooled. New border dentils of sawtooth shape have been engraved over the original ones, which were nearly round. McGirk mistakenly identified the reverse as his 3A of 1810.

Die states: 1. Arc cracks at left without the extra crack toward nose. Dies aligned about 100 apart (nearly normal for medal alignment). Apparently rare. See Jack H. Robinson collection, lot 597.

II. Both dies ground down to remove rust with large blank areas in the central hair and reverse letters weakened. Additional arc crack through the center toward nose. Dies aligned about 1900 (nearly normal coin alignment). Much commoner. See Jack H. Robinson collection, lot 598.

Equivalents: McGirk 2A; Encyclopedia 1761.

Low Rarity 2. Possibly R-1.

Remarks: Estimated population over 1,000. Broad planchets (29 mm), Weight range 10.1-10.7 grams (155.8-164.7 grains).

Condition Census:

Many examples exist in Uncirculated condition, often with some original red.

Tin Restrike

Equivalents: Judd 28; Encyclopedia 1762; Pollock 6055.

Rarity 8. Two known.

Remarks: One of the two appeared in the sale of the Fewsmith cabinet, Mason & Co., October 1870, lot 2434.

Listed in Judd (3rd edition) as R-7, indicating that Abe Kosoff thought there were a couple of others around; these have not shown up. The various examples are listed by Andrew W. Pollock, III in United States Patterns and Related Items in the chapter titled "Privately Issued Restrikes." (Wolfeboro, NH: Bowers and Merena, 1994. p. 457.)

Condition Census:

William A. Fewsmith • Mason & Co. 10/1870: 2434 • Ebenezer Locke Mason, Jr. • W. J. Jenks • W. Elliot Woodward 9/1880: 805 • Charles H. Shinkle • J. C. Morgenthau & Co. #278, 4/1932: 1 $4.25 • Dr. James O. Sloss • Pennsylvania Cabinet • Bowers and Merena 3/1997: 149 $3/960. Unknown private collection.

Obverse die trial, uniface, tin.

Equivalents: Encyclopedia 1763.

Rarity 8. Only one reported. (Editor's note: The author has listed this in tin, however, the Shinkle catalogue describes this coin in lead. Most likely, this will turn out to be tin, matching related issues in composition.)

Condition Census:

Hon. George M. Parsons • Henry Chapman 6/1914: 344 $3/95 • Charles H. Shinkle • J. C. Morgenthau & Co. #278, 4/1932: 2 • Private collection.

Reverse die trial, uniface, tin.

Equivalents: Encyclopedia 1764.

Rarity 8. Only two seen.

Remarks: That in the 1971 ANA sale is described as white metal. The other is from a later die state (rust advanced, RICA obliterated) and described as being struck in tin. This probably belongs with the tin strikings of 1810, q.v.

Condition Census:

Hon. George M. Parsons • Henry Chapman 6/1914: 348 $3.75 • Charles H. Shinkle • J. C. Morgenthau & Co. #278, 4/1932: 3 • Dr. James O. Sloss • Pennsylvania Cabinet. Bowers and Merena 3/1997: 150 $1,540.

Henry Chapman • Henry C. Hines • Willard C. Blaisdell • 1971 ANA (Stack's): 253 $310 • Jackson C. Storm, 7/31/1983 • Jeffrey Oliphant.