Q. David Bowers
Auction '85 Specimen. MS-63 .• Stack's, Auction '85, 1985: 1748. "Brilliant Uncirculated, sharply struck, light reverse planchet adjustment marks on the eagle and about the periphery; stars and head boldly struck; splendid deep steel and olive toning." • Stack's, Auction '87, 1987: 777.
Auction '90 Specimen. MS-63 .• Superior, 1990: 1145. "Needle-sharp strike throughout with bold hair curls, complete drapery line around the bust, full wreath detail, well struck eagle; no rim nicks; pleasing surfaces and lovely toning."
Brown University Specimen. MS-63 •• Pine Tree, Brown University Collection, 1976: 308. "Choice Uncirculated, frosty, glittering, lightly toned, as well struck as this comes; eagle's eye clear, partial neck and leg feathers, more than half breast feathers; two tiny reverse rim nicks; no noticeable field or device bagmarks .• Kagin's, 1977: 1754.
Chalkley Specimen. MS-63 •• Superior, Chalkley Collection, 1990: 2829. "Prooflike fields, bold feathers on eagle's breast, only a few of which are not fully struck up. Overlaid with a dusting of silvery gray toning."
Essex Institute Specimen. MS-63 .• Stack's, Essex Institute Collection, 1975: 983. "Brilliant Uncirculated, wholly prooflike, touch of friction in the field from the gem category."
Forrest Specimen. MS-63 .• S.S. Forrest, Jr. Collection (Stack's, 1972): 977. "Brilliant Uncirculated, superb iridescent toning, just the faintest touch of friction away from the gem category; slight softness of strike on eagle."
Holmes Specimen. MS-63 .• Stack's, Milton Holmes Collection, 1960: 2233. "Brilliant Uncirculated, sharply struck, full denticles, light iridescent toning, some adjustment marks on obverse made at the mint to equalize weight."
MANA Convention Sale Specimen. MS-63 .• Kagin's, 1973: 1300. "Acquired. as Proof, golden blue iridescent prooflike, wire edge sharply struck specimen."
Newport Specimen. MS-63 .• Bowers and Ruddy, 1975: 375. "Brilliant Uncirculated, prooflike, sharply struck in all details; all hair strands very bold; eagle on reverse is well struck with the normal flatness of strike being at a minimum; some adjustment marks caused at the Mint during planchet preparation extend into the coin from the upper left obverse and also through the stars on the right; on reverse some negligible adjustment marks near bottom." • Bowers and Merena, 1989: 1943 .• Gore and Long Collections, Bowers and Merena, 1990: 345.
Robison Specimen. MS-63 .• Ellis H. Robison Collection
(Stack's, 1982): 1855. "Brilliant Uncirculated, a few small contact marks on the head; full frosty lustre; fully struck up, the head especially sharp; exquisite peripheral iridescent toning."
Stack's Specimen. MS-63 .• Stack's, May Sale, 1991: 458.
"Choice Brilliant Uncirculated, obverse wholly prooflike, faint planchet adjustment marks mostly on head but virtually invisible; reverse prooflike and satiny; stars needle-sharp with full radial lines; milling equally as sharp on both sides; mirrorlike surfaces and delicate amber and iridescent toning."
• RESEARCH NOTES:
The letter punches used to impress UNITED STATES OF AMERICA into the reverse die were also used on the Small Letters reverse die of 1795 BB-52, and some (but not all) were used to create the Small Letters reverse die of 1796 BB-65. The E in the punch set used in 1795 is distinctive in that the serif at the end of the crossbar is longer at the top end than at the bottom.
An undersized copper trial piece weighing 100 grains exists and is believed to be unique. Its original purpose is unknown; it was not large enough to serve as a set-up piece for die spacing. Perhaps, it was made as a whimsy. The pedigree includes Stack's May 30, 1975 Sale: 932, earlier the Judd, Boyd, Newcomer, Woodin, and Parmelee collections, and came from W. Elliot Woodward, April 28, 1863. See Judd Appendix B where it is incorrectly designated a mint error.
• POPULATION DISTRIBUTION:
Approximate population MS-65 or better: 5 to 8 (URS-4)
Approximate population MS-64: 8 to 12 (URS-5)
Approximate population MS-63: 20 to 35 (URS-6)
Approximate population MS-60 to 62: 50 to 100 (URS-7)
Approximate population AU-50 to 58: 200 to 350 (URS-9)
Approximate population VF-20 to EF-45: 800 to 1,400 (URS-11)
Approximate population G-4 to F-15: 250 to 400 (URS-10)
Approximate population for all grades combined: 1,400 to 2,200 (URS-12)
• CONDITION CENSUS: 65-65-65-65-65-64 (multiples)