Walter Breen's Encyclopedia of Early United States Cents

Obverse 2. LH. UE. LH. UH. Small date with thin center to 8, as formerly, 1 2 are farther apart than other digits. R shows repunching within the loop and T above the left base. A short die cut on the neck from hair below center dot, points to the fifth and 12th stars. Stars 4-5 and 11-12 are closer together than others. Narrow dentils.

Reverse B. C. R. SPC. Pc. NS are normal. IT is closer together at bases than at tops with the I leaning left. Final A is farther from the stem end than on any other die since 1808.

Die states: L Perfect dies.

II. One set of reverse clash marks is visible within the wreath: the lips and chin at O(N) and C(E), and the ribbon end between (N)E and the wreath.

III. Two heavier sets of clash marks in the wreath. Flow lines. Reverse has vertical lapping marks at ITEDSTA. Tops of TES OF A merge with raised ridge; dentils are weak or absent in that area (die wear).

IV. Heavy flow lines. Vertical laps tone marks at ITED STA.

Equivalents: Proskey 3. Doughty 219. McGirk 3A.

Clapp 3. Sheldon 290. EAC 2. Encyclopedia 1783.

Rarity 1.

Remarks: There was a small hoard of Mint State specimens.

On heavy strikings, the leaf point below C(A) is nearer to NR than to PC.

John D. Wright has a late state example with severe axial misalignment: obverse over 7% off center in K-10 (like his similar 1810/09), reverse about normal If this was not corrected at once, expect later states with rim breaks near the last stars and date.

Condition Census:

MS-65 Discovered at a 1973 coin show by Malcolm Varner • A-Mark Coin Co. 3/1973: 244 $2,400 • Douglas M. McHenry • Superior Galleries 9/1986: 429 $15,400 • Anthony Terranova • R. E. Naftzger, Jr., 2/23/1992 • Eric Streiner • Jay Parrino (The Mint).

MS-65 W. Smithson, 12/1863 • British Museum (London).

MS-63 Howard R. Newcomb • J. C. Morgenthau & Co. #458, 2/1945: 481 $50 • Wayte Raymond. Joseph H. Spray • Stack's 4/1975: 25 $1,700.

MS-63 George W. Merritt • Ed. Frossard 1/1879: 169 $10.50 • Thomas Warner • S. H. & H. Chapman 6/1884: 3028 $10 • S. H. & H. Chapman. Obverse illustrated in the 1879 Frossard monograph.

MS-62 Pine Tree Auction Co. 3/1976: 2434 $2,100 • Kenneth M. Goldman • Martin Haber (South Miami Rare Coins) • Kenneth M. Goldman, 1989 • Denis W. Loring, 11/1990 • R. Tettenhorst, 10/1995 • Jay Parrino (The Mint).

MS-61 Dr. George P. French, 3/21/1929 • B. Max Mehl FPL, 1929: 366 $150 • Henry A. Sternberg • J. C. Morgenthau & Co. #305, 4/1933: 37 $68 • B. Max Mehl Collection • T. James Clarke, 10/1954 • R. E. Naftzger, Jr. • A. Kosoff 10/1959: 118 $360 • Emanuel Taylor, 10/1960 • 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 Noyes.

MS-61 C. T. Whitman • S. H. & H. Chapman 8/1893: 868 $11 • M. A. Brown • S. H. & H. Chapman 4/1897: 821 $45 • Benjamin H. Collins • Dr. Thomas Hall, 9/7/1909 • Virgil M. Brand • B. G. Johnson (St. Louis Stamp & Coin Co.) • Mary Cowan Cruzan • Spink America #8686, 6/1997: 103 $15,400 • Jeff Isaac • Superior Stamp & Coin 2/1998: 1066 $15,400.

MS-60 David Proskey • Henry C. Hines • Dr. William H. Sheldon, 4/19/1972 • R. E. Naftzger, Jr. • New Netherlands Coin Co. 11/1973: 604 $700 • Paramount International Coin Corp. • Paramount International Coin Corp. 5/1974: 272 $925. Obverse and reverse illustrated in Early American Cents. Reverse illustrated in Penny Whimsy.

MS-60 Herman Halpern • Stack's 3/1988: 277 $5,500 • John B. MacDonald, 3/1997 • Thomas D. Reynolds.

MS-60 Dr. Angus C. Black • New Netherlands Coin Co.#61, 6/1970: 141 $1,000 • Ted Kress, 6/1991 • Fred H. Borcherdt.