U.S. 1 Cent Coins (1793-1858)

1793 S-9 PCGS GRADED MS68 BROWN

Lot 1394
1793. Wreath reverse, vine and bars edge, Sheldon-8, Rarity 3- One of the Finest Known. PCGS graded MS-68 Brown. Here is one of the very finest known of this popular variety. The monumental grade awarded by PCGS is simply amazing. This isn't some Morgan dollar that somehow survived in pristine condition over decades from a hoard of tens of thousands, this is a 1793 Wreath Cent in absolutely superb condition. Satiny brown luster throughout, the color is a medium chocolate brown, evenly toned on both sides. As to the surfaces, well, the grade says it all, they are virtually perfect. It is a certainty that this coin was carefully preserved from the day it was struck. It is incomprehensible to think that a coin like this could be found today without some signs of handling. One must stand in awe of this piece.
Of course the strike is full and complete, with each tiny stand of hair crisply defined on Liberty, as are the tiny dentils at the edge. Similar on the reverse, the leaf veins pop out from the centers of each leaf, and a fine die crack bisects the reverse. The large and cumbersome bow at the base of the wreath is a diagnostic to the variety. Completely free of spots or other unwanted signs of age.
While many coins may be high up in their own particular condition census, it is rare that we have a chance to offer so many extremely famous rarities in such superlative condition. With the active coin market of the 1990s, a large number of superb collections were finally brought to the market. Some of these coins are still floating around, most of which disappeared again deep into collections, a few were off the market for the last eight years and have now resurfaced. Don't expect these superb gem pieces to be around when you want one in the next few decades, they'll be long gone and may not be seen again in our lifetimes. As more and more collectors specialize in certain areas of collecting, coins like this become impossible to locate as they are needed by date, type and variety collectors alike. There is no large floating supply of 1793 cents, no big hoards were discovered, no kegs lying under some railway station, no hidden boxes of 1793s awaiting discovery, no shipwreck to recover to give collectors a reasonable chance at obtaining one of these numismatic classics. Thus, we must play what we are dealt, and here is one of the foremost opportunities to purchase a superbly preserved 1793 large cent that will ever come to market.
Estimated Value $150,000-UP.
From the collection of Howard R. Newcomb, lot 8; Starr Collection, lot 13; Roy E. Naftzger; Jay Parrino ("The Mint") to our present consigner.

SUPERB GEM 1793 SHELDON-9 CENT PCGS GRADED MS67

Lot 1395
1793. Wreath reverse, vine and bars edge, Sheldon-9, Rarity 2. The Finest Known. PCGS graded MS-67 Red and Brown. Without question, this is the Finest Known of the variety. A glance causes one to double-take in disbelief. What's this, a 1793 Wreath cent with significant original mint red in superb gem condition? How can such exist today? It is a numismatic miracle that such a coin has survived in such pristine, original, untouched condition. No collector should pass on the opportunity just to view this coin, even if one has no realistic hope of owning such a coin anytime soon, it is a numismatic work of art, worthy of the finest museum or collection.
According to the William Noyes census, this coin is the only example of the variety that is called MS-65 by EAC standards. There is one other MS-63 choice coin, and a small group that qualify as MS-60. As a type coin, the importance of this piece cannot be overestimated. Very few 1793 large cents survive in mint state condition, to find a superb gem is virtually impossible. Most collectors never had a chance to see, let alone own, such a coin. They were tied up in famous collections for decades, and haven't been offered publicly for many years. This particular coin was tucked away from the original Crosby Collection, to Pearl; Dr. William H. Sheldon, Roy E. Naftzger, Rarcoa to Jay Parrino ("The Mint") to our present consigner.
When examined with a glass the surfaces seem much too surreal, they are magnificent, without a blemish or flaw. Substantial mint red still resides near the devices, and the surfaces are free of annoying spots or other problems. A coin that must be seen to be believed. The strike too, is full and complete, with even the tiny hair strands separated exactly as engraved in the die. As to the die state, the obverse die shows clash marks from the reverse, with leaves from the wreath visible below Liberty's chin, while the reverse die is a fairly late die state with cracks through UNIT, the fraction, and RICA of AMERICA.
Wanted by variety, date and type collectors alike, this superb example from the first struggling months in 1793 of the operation of our Mint in Philadelphia will always be the cornerstone of a great collection.
Estimated Value $250,000-UP.
Crosby, Pearl:7; William H. Sheldon: 10; Roy E. Naftzger: 330; Rarcoa 8/82, lot 510; Jay Parrino to our present consignor.

Lot 1396
1793. Wreath reverse, vine and bars edge, Sheldon-8, Rarity 3-. PCGS graded EF-45. A choice piece for the grade, the obverse has lovely medium brown color, similar on the reverse, but there are some darker toned areas in and through the wreath. Clean surfaces for the grade, with only light scattered ticks from brief circulation. While the gem mint state examples of this date will certainly create a stir in the copper community, even a high grade coin like this deserves special attention. Wanted by many people, and seldom available in any grade approaching this select EF 45 example.
Boldly struck by the dies, with the usual light reverse die crack, and well preserved.
Estimated Value $4,000-5,000.

WONDERFUL 1794 CENT

Lot 1397
1794. "Head of 1794", Sheldon-24, Rarity 1. PCGS graded MS-67 Red and Brown. This is the famous Proskey-Hines-Sheldon-Naftzger-Parino coin. It is far and away the finest known of the variety and tied for the finest known of the type with one other graded MS-67 brown (of another variety). Examination finds virtually no sign of contact, the fields and devices are as struck. The only tiny mark we could locate is on the dentils below the 4 in the date, which serves to identify this as the above mentioned coin, plated in the Sheldon reference work as well as the Noyes book. A more beautiful coin could scarcely be imagined. Furthermore, this is the "full cheeks" variety, long popular with collectors, and almost never available in grades even approaching mint state.
As to the color, the satiny brown luster still shows forth several areas of original mint red, mostly near the devices. Fully struck by the dies, with the curious "rust" feature on Liberty's neck and in the field around the date, as noted in Sheldon. Struck from a lightly cracked obverse die, with a crack extending through the L of LIBERTY to the rim just right of the 4 in the date. The surfaces are free of specks, ticks or other signs of age or mishandling. One can only imagine that this coin was somehow set aside at the time of issue, and carefully preserved to this day. No doubt every numismatist who has ever dreamed of working on a set of Large Cents would covet this coin and make it the centerpiece of their collection. Be prepared for a worthy battle when this coin crosses the auction block, for it is superb in every regard, and quality like this is never cheap.
Estimated Value $50,000-UP.
From the Collections of H.C. Hines, Dr. William H. Sheldon, Roy E. Naftzger, Jay Parrino ("The Mint") to our present consigner.

Lot 1398
1794 Sheldon-44, Rarity 1. Sharpness of EF-40 but signs of smoothing in the fields. This is a late die state for the variety, the obverse die has a crack through the 17 of the date up to her curls, and a heavy die crack down the back of her cap. The reverse is also a late die state with a sharp die crack from the rim near OF down to the N of ONE. As to the surfaces, this one displays some dark roughness near the lettering and devices on both sides, most of which appears to have been carefully smoothed down. Nevertheless, the coin retains most of the original details and it appears to have scarcely circulated, but was simply stored in a damp environment for many decades. Inspection mandatory, as the coin retains visual eye appeal but does have its surface problems, familiar to copper collectors. Minor porosity on both sides, and worth a careful inspection.
Estimated Value $600-800.

Lot 1399
1798. Style 2 hair, Sheldon-181, Rarity 3. Sharpness of EF-40 but surface porosity, net grade Fine 15. Some porosity on the obverse which has been smoothed down carefully. We note some porosity above the ribbon and into Liberty's hair, with raised red areas noted. The reverse die is rotated counter-clockwise about 20 degrees. Additional porosity on the E of UNITED, which has also been smoothed. Toned a medium chocolate brown now, and much better than we make it sound. As with all early copper, inspection is mandatory to determine the value. Grading is a subjective art, and our little world of coins is filled with aspiring artists grading coins using every possible method. It all finally comes down to price, whether its graded Poor 1 or Mint State 70, the value is all that matters. Nicely struck and with three die cracks in the left obverse field, and the recut 0s in the denomination are especially sharp.
Estimated Value $600-800.

Lot 1400
1798. Style 2 hair, Sheldon-187. Sharpness of EF-40 net VF-20. A few rough spots which accounts for the net grade. Medium brown in color and well struck. Some raised corrosion on both sides, and a later die state with cracks on both the obverse and reverse.
Estimated Value $300-400.

United States

BEAUTIFUL 1803 LARGE CENT

Lot 1401
1803. Small date, large fraction S-257, Rarity 2. PCGS graded MS-67 Red and Brown. What a fantastic cent! Faded mint red glows up from the fields and produces an enticing cartwheel effect seldom seen on large cents of any date, let alone an 1803. This coin is the finest known of the variety, slightly ahead of a similar coin that passed through Rarcoa. What separates this coin from the few other mint state pieces known are the superb surfaces. A glass fails to locate anything more than microscopic contact, and the only way to identify this piece is by a couple of minute specks, one just above the O in ONE on the reverse. Currently in PCGS holder #3195353.
This coin is rarely offered for sale, it has been tied up in Dr. William Sheldon's collection for years, which was sold en bloc to Roy E. Naftzger some years ago, and finally surfaced (briefly) in a complex transaction. Many of the coins from Dr. Sheldon's collection were the finest known of the variety, and a few of them are being offered in this auction sale.
It is curious to note the die file lines that are visible on most of the obverse devices, apparently from wire brushing the die when it was first engraved or from some other process. The die lines appear as circular raised marks, and are most prominent near Liberty's bust and drapery. Additional lines can be seen on her ribbon, even her nose. These light die lines are seldom seen as they are easily removed by die lapping or wear or even brief circulation once the coin is struck. Hence, this coin must have been an early die state, struck well before the reverse die cracked or the obverse die was lapped to remove clash marks.
Certainly this coin will always stand alone as one of the great highlights of any collection it graces. Be prepared to bid liberally as virtually every collector would love to own this coin, the only deciding factor is price, which is why we have auctions. To find the most determined buyer who won't settle for something less than the absolute best, this 1803 cent.
Estimated Value $40,000-UP.
From the William H. Sheldon Collection, then to Roy E. Naftzger, Jay Parrino ("The Mint") to our present consignor.

PROBABLY THE FINEST KNOWN CLASSIC HEAD CENT

Lot 1402
1810 Sheldon-282, Rarity 2. PCGS graded MS-67 Red and Brown. Magnificent quality! After all these years of third party grading, PCGS and NGC have only awarded 3 Classic head cents the grade of mint state 67. However, the other two are "brown" in color, and this coin, this incredible 1810, is the only one with enough original mint red to qualify as "Red and Brown". Therefore, this coin certainly can claim to be the Finest Known of the type!, not just the date or variety. One simply cannot imagine a more perfect specimen, the surfaces are resplendent in their perfection, glossy tan luster in the fields over hints of original mint red near the devices. No signs of contact from other coins or any other problems. The strike is sharp, although a couple of obverse stars show slight weakness at the centers. Simply stated, if you collect superb coins, or want the ultimate in your collection, then purchase this coin.
Easily identifiable as the Roy E. Naftzger coin, plated in the William Noyes United States Large Cents 1793-1814 book, which is clearly listed as the finest known of the variety. An immense opportunity to purchase a towering coin for the person who demands the absolute finest available. Color photo.
Estimated Value $20,000-30,000.
Roy E. Naftzger, then to Jay Parrino ("The Mint") to the present consignor.

Lot 1403
1813 Sheldon-293, Rarity 2. MS-63 Brown. Expertly cleaned and retoned with hints of blue around the devices and light to medium brown in color. The strike is typical of the year, flat upper stars on the obverse, but with most of the definition on Liberty's curls. As a date, 1813 is a difficult coin to find on a decent planchet, most come in poor condition, not so here, this is certainly one of the better coins known of the date. On the reverse, the coin is well balanced in strike, color and surfaces. Examination with a glass finds few faults, and many attributes, which will keep the collectors hands held high when this one crosses the auction block.
Estimated Value $5,000-6,000.

Lot 1404
1829 N-2, Large letters reverse. MS-60 Brown. Here is a coin with nice light brown color on both sides, but examination will note several curious round raised donuts in the field from some sort of substance which must have dried on the coin. Most of the devices show similar lumps, and some of the donuts are located on Liberty's neck and face. These are scarcely visible and can only be seen with a strong light and a glass. The reverse does not exhibit this curious feature and we suspect that it is the result of some sort of abortive cleaning process which went slightly awry. Inspection mandatory as the surfaces are appealing to the unaided eye, and the color appears a nice light brown. Well struck, with some slight darkening on Liberty's face, but no other handling problems.
Estimated Value $300-350.

Lot 1405
1851. MS-63 Red and Brown. Cleaned and retoned to a pleasing reddish brown color, with most of the luster still present in the fields. The fields and devices are free of all but tiny tick marks, and this coin has a pleasant appearance in every way. Fully struck, even over Liberty's ear.
Estimated Value $125-150.

Flying Eagle Cents

Lot 1406
1857. PCGS graded MS-64 Premium quality. Frosty and original, with the typical wood-grain toning attendant to this issue. Well struck on the bird, but some of the lettering is minutely weak. Seldom found in these old holders today, and worth a premium for the surface and color quality. An important type coin.
Here is one of several coins that was consigned to us by a collector who obviously put them away years ago. All the coins are in the old style PCGS holders, with the blue inserts.The coins were carefully chosen and preserved since that time, and obviously have not been resubmitted to the grading services for over a decade.
Estimated Value $700-900.

Lot 1407
1858. Small letters. PCGS graded MS-64 Premium quality. Still in an old style PCGS holder, this coin is a real blazer. Frosty luster on both sides, and untoned. If you have been searching for a really choice piece, then view this coin carefully, it may fit the bill.
Estimated Value $800-1,000.