Walter Breen's Encyclopedia of Early United States Cents

Obverse 1. Pointed 1 as in 1805 obverse 2 with numerals as in 1805-06 half eagles. Knobbed 6. Letters as in 1803 obverse 14 (Large Date). Point of curl between BE.

Reverse A. Same as 1805 reverse B.

Die states: 1. No obverse crack. The reverse borders are weak.

II. Faint crack develops in the lowest curl. Faint clash arks from leaves near the ribbon and throat.

III. The crack of state II extends to the rim. New obverse crack from the rim into the field about 4:00, at first short. At least four sets of clash marks from the leaves near the hair ribbon and throat. McGirk ID.

IV. At least seven sets of severe clash marks from leaves near the ribbon, face, and throat, and from stem, ribbon, and fraction at LIBERTY. Bulges develop behind the lowest curl and at 06. Defects join this curl to 1. Reverse has multiple clash marks from the bust at upper right and from the neck and hair within the wreath. On the latest examples, the crack of state III extends faintly from e rim to point of the chin.

Equivalents: Proskey 1. Doughty 202. McGirk lA, lB, IC, ID.Clapp 1. Sheldon 270. EAC 1. Encyclopedia 1767.

Rarity 1.

Remarks: Doughty said that Uncirculated examples "may be ranked among the rarest of the rare." The Chapman brothers in 1906 claimed that only three were known in Mint State condition, (Harlan P. Smith collection, 5/1906, lot 1109.) Such claims, repeated in later decades, may have contributed to this date's reputation for alleged rarity.

Benjamin H. Collins described a second variety, with pointed 6 as in the quarters, half dollars, and half eagles. The 6 touches the drapery (Numismatist, February 1920, p. 56; Lapp & Silberman, p. 397. Montroville Wuson Dickeson, American Numismatical Manual, Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott & Co., 1859, p. 208, did not mention a Pointed 6 variety, however, did note identification of six varieties, including one from an altered die of 1805 and another with 1/000 on reverse!) Collins graded his coin as "nearly fine" but its whereabouts are currently unknown. I take the Collins report a little more seriously than other such apocrypha because of evidence that at least two pointed 6 obverses were made and overdated to 1807/6. Compare this to the description of 1807 number 2.

Condition Census:

MS-62 From England • Lester Merkin • Robert A. Arnel • Stack's 1/1967: 9 $1,900 • Floyd T. Starr (Starr returned the coin because he "already had one") • Stack's, privately • C. Douglas Smith. Herman Halpern, 12/11/1986 • R. E.Naitzger, Jr., 2/23/1992. Eric Streiner • Jay Parrino (The Mint) • Dr. Eugene Sherman. Obverse and reverse illustrated in Noyes.

MS-61 T. James Clarke • Dr. William H. Sheldon. 4/19/1972 • R. E. Naftzger, Jr., 2/23/1992 • Eric Streiner • Jay Parrino (The Mint) • Superior Galleries 7/1993: 17 not sold • Jay Parrino (The Mint). Obverse and reverse illustrated in Penny Whimsy.

MS-61 Purchased in 8/1891 from F. W. Lincoln (W. S. Lincoln & Son, London) by Benjamin H. Collins, 7/22/1916 • Dr. Henry W. Beckwith • S. H. Chapman 4/1923: 36 $75 • unknown • Charles R Mathewson, 1955 • Copley Coin Co., 7/27/1955 • C. Douglas Smith • Louis Helfenstein • Lester Merkin 8/1964: 39 $2,500 • Gene Reale • Sotheby's (New York) #7083, 1/1998:42 $16,500.

M5-61 Wm. Festus Morgan • J. C. Morgenthau & Co. #287, 6/1932: 80 $100 • T. James Clarke, 10/1954 • R. E. Naftzger, Jr. • A. Kosoff • 4/1956: 111 $250 • Harold Bareford, 9/13 /1985 • Herman Halpern • Stack's 3/1988: 256 $3,960 • John B. MacDonald, 2/20/1997 • W. M . "Jack" Wadlington.

MS-60 S. H. & H. Chapman, $75 • Richard B. Winsor • S.H & H. Chapman 12/1895: 885 $78. Chas. Steigerwalt • Dr. Thomas Hall, 9/7/1909 • Virgil M. Brand • New Netherlands Coin Co., privately 9/26/1951 • C. Douglas Smith • Dr. William H. Sheldon. Dorothy Paschal. C. Douglas Smith • Ellen Enzler • Numismatic and Antiquarian Service Corporation of America 12/1978: 26 not sold • Ellen Enzler, 12/1979 • R E. Naftzger, Jr., 2/23/1992 • Eric Streiner • Gilbert Steinberg.

MS-60 Vinton collection • W. Elliot Woodward • W. Elliot Woodward 6th Semi-Annual Sale, 3/1865: 1840 $35 • Joseph Zanoni • Thomas Cleneay • S. H. & H. Chapman 12/1890: 1827 $125 • Byron Reed, 1891 • City of Omaha.

MS-60 Paramount International Coin Corp.11/1976: 77 $900 • unknown • Numismatic and Antiquarian Service Corporation of America 11/1977: 139 $1,450 • C. Douglas Smith • Dr. Dane B. Nielsen • C. Douglas Smith • Bertram Cohen, 3/30/1985 • C. Douglas Smith. State IV.

AU-55 Carl Wurtzbach • Charles Wheeler • 1976 ANA (Stack's): 358 $1,800 • Fitzgerald's (Louisiana) • Fred Lowndes.

AU-55 Peter Mougey • William H. Woodin • Thomas L. Elder • 43, 9/1910: 67 $20 • Thomas L. Elder • Thomas L. Elder #45, 11/1910: 795 $24.50.