Feb. 16, 2001, The Benson Collection Part 1, Sale 8
Lot 201
1809. Normal date. Cohen-3,
Breen-4, High Rarity-1. Del Bland graded MS-60. Beautiful, lustrous
dark chocolate brown surfaces with very faint traces of lighter brown. Quite
well struck and very attractive. Probably would slab out as MS-64 BN. or even a
point higher.
Estimated Value $500-700.
Lot 202
1809. 9 over 6. Cohen-5,
Breen-5, Rarity-1. Del Bland graded AU-55. With some soft striking
on both sides. Minute nicks on top of the neck, on the edge over star ten and
on a point of star twelve, these so inconspicuous they are barely worth
mentioning. Somewhat glossy dark steel brown.
Estimated Value $400-550.
Lot 203
1809. Normal date. Cohen-6,
Breen-6, Rarity-1. Del Bland graded AU-50. Nearly mint state in
sharpness but on the neck is a nick, a tiny one can be found on the cheek and
on both sides are a few microscopic handling marks. Sharply struck and
perfectly centered. Dark chocolate brown. An impressive example for the
specialist.
Estimated Value $250-375.
Lot 204
1809. Normal date. Cohen-6,
Rarity-1. Double Struck. ANACS graded Sharpness of AU-50 net EF-40.
Note the second strike at the tip of Liberty's bust, and on the reverse
above ES of STATES. Cleaned to a pinkish brown, and could easily be improved by
retoning. There is a minor scratch on the reverse above HA of HALF to the O in
OF. All mint errors of the period are rare and highly sought-after by legions
of collectors.
Estimated Value $200-300.
Lot 205
1809. Normal date. Cohen-6,
Breen-6, Rarity-1. Del Bland graded EF-45. Medium dark steel brown
showing only a few microscopic handling marks including one on the jaw and
another on the rim left of the date.
Estimated Value $175-225.
Lot 206
1810. Cohen-1, Breen-1,
Rarity-2. NGC graded AU-55 Brown. Sharper by five points but on the
reverse is a very long, vertical hairline scratch up from the top of E in CENT.
Medium dark chocolate brown with some traces of faded mint red through the
stars and date. This is a half cent that could be improved by proper brushing.
Estimated Value $700-1,200.
Lot 207
1810. Cohen-1, Breen-1,
Rarity-1. Del Bland graded EF-45. With a low spot around the nostril
and with weak striking on the right stars and at ERICA. Five points sharper but
through the base of 0 in the date and the outer points of stars 12 and 13 is an
ancient, light scratch, opposite the mouth is a tiny nick and on top of the
neck is a larger one. Dark chocolate brown with a dark red spot at the left
side of H in HALF. Reverse is rotated 60 degrees to the left.
Estimated
Value $700-1,200.
Lot 208
1810. Cohen-1, Breen-1,
Rarity-2. Del Bland graded VF-25. Sharpness of Very Fine 35 but some
microscopic roughness on both sides, two long, crossing hairline scratches on
the lower right obverse and a shorter, heavier scratch up from the top of the
head. Dark olive steel in color.
Estimated Value $125-175.
Lot 209
1811. Close date. Cohen-2,
Breen-2, Rarity-3. Del Bland graded Fine-12. Sharpness of VF-35 but
lightly porous with heavier porosity from back of the head through stars eight
and nine and a vertical line of small nicks across the bust to the chin. Dark
steel brown.
Tensions were mounting between England and America in 1809-10.
A trade blockade was enacted, which naturally cut off the supply of half cent
planchets from English supplier Boulton & Watt to the Philadelphia Mint. The
last shipment of planchets was used to coin 1811 half cents, with a mintage of
just 63,140, as the events that led up to the War of 1812 unfolded. Half cent
production then ceased until 1825 when demand for the denomination returned.
Estimated Value $500-750.
Ex: Ira S. Reed 7/30/45 as "Unc." for $30.
Lot 210
1825. Cohen-2, Breen-2,
Rarity-1. NGC graded AU-58 Brown. Chocolate brown in color with
numerous microscopic dark specks on the obverse. Minor handling marks.
Estimated Value $250-300.
Lot 211
1825. Cohen-2, Breen-2,
Rarity-1. PCGS graded AU-50. Darkish olive and natural reddish brown
surfaces, smooth and clean except for a trace of verdigris between stars eleven
and thirteen. Delightful in quality and satisfying.
Estimated Value
$250-300.
Lot 212
1825. Cohen-2, Breen-2,
Rarity-1. Del Bland graded EF-40. Pleasing light brown surfaces with
a fine scratch below CE of CENT.
Estimated Value $250-325.
Lot 213
1825-1835. A group of 8
half cents. Del Bland graded as follows: 1825 VG-8; 1826 F-15; 1828 12
stars G-6; 1829 VG-7; 1833 VF-30; 1834 VF-20; 1835 VF-35 and 1835 VF-25
recolored. Lot of 8 coins.
Estimated Value $125-175.
Lot 214
1826. Cohen-1, Breen-1,
Rarity-1. Del Bland graded MS-60. Sharper by five points but on the
edges and in the fields are several very small nicks with larger ones about
midway between the edge and the chin, on the edge opposite the mouth and near
the rim at K2½ on the obverse. Medium dark chocolate brown.
Estimated Value $450-600.
Lot 215
1826. Cohen-1, Breen-1,
Rarity-1. Del Bland graded AU-55. With a very small planchet pit
mark on the bust. Medium steel and faded mint red, mostly on the obverse.
Estimated Value $200-225.
Lot 216
1828. 12 stars. Cohen-2,
Breen-3, High Rarity-2. PCGS graded AU-58 and Del Bland graded EF-45.
Semi-lustrous dark olive steel in color with a considerable amount of mint
red around the devices. Pleasant surfaces with a scratch between stars four and
five.
To date, PCGS has only graded 22 coins of this variety in various mint
state grades. In AU-58, only 8 have been graded. Hence, this is a tough coin to
find this nice. This particular coin is well struck with only slight weakness
on the left obverse stars (diagnostic) and with choice surfaces, add to that
the original mint red in the fields, and you have a very desirable example of
this important twelve star variety.
Estimated Value $200-300.
Ex:
James G. Macallister 6/7/44 at $2.
Lot 217
1828. 12 stars. Cohen-2,
Breen-3, High Rarity-2. Del Bland graded EF-40. Attractive and clean
except for a long, faint hairline scratch behind the head and a very small edge
dent over the second T in STATES. Medium steel brown.
Estimated Value
$175-225.
Lot 218
1828. 13 stars. Cohen-3,
Breen-2, Rarity-1. PCGS graded MS-64 Brown and Del Bland graded MS-60.
Just slightly better (than the grade assigned) being light brown with
traces of mint red and light steel blue overtones on the reverse. Behind the
head is a small carbon spot and above HALF are a few microscopic nicks in a
horizontal line.
This coin is well struck, with slight central weakness on a
few of the upper left stars. Fully struck on Liberty's curls and on the reverse
Christmas style wreath. Examination of the surfaces will find very few signs of
contact, and the small carbon spot is not too dark or distracting. Liberty's
face and surrounding fields are better than one would expect for the grades
assigned, and half cents of this quality are extremely rare. PCGS has only
graded 42 as such, with 7 graded higher (all MS-65). That's a low population
for this "hoard" coin in near gem or gem condition.
As an historic aside,
please note that the last time this coin appeared on the market was the week of
the D-Day invasion of WWII, June, 1944.
Estimated Value $400-600.
Ex: James G. Macallister 6/7/44 as "Unc." for $3.
Lot 219
1828. 13 stars. Cohen-3,
Breen-2, Rarity-1. Del Bland graded MS-61. Medium steel brown and
faded mint red, mostly on the reverse. Under magnification and with careful
scrutiny a couple hairline scratches can be located.
Estimated Value
$300-400.
Lot 220
1832. Cohen-2, Breen-2,
Rarity-1. Del Bland graded EF-40. Medium light brown.
Estimated
Value $50-75.
Lot 221
1833. Cohen-1, Breen-1,
Rarity-1. PCGS graded MS-64 Brown and Del Bland graded AU-50. Medium
light brown with olive overtones on the reverse. Opposite the mouth is a small
darkish spot and behind the head is a minute nick.
Desirable for its brown
luster in the fields and well preserved throughout. Struck from clashed dies,
and with a light crack through the left obverse stars. Breen State V.
Estimated Value $400-600.
Ex: James G. Macallister 6/7/44 at $1.50.
Lot 222
1835. Cohen-1, Breen-1,
Rarity-1. Del Bland graded MS-64. Full glowing mint red toning to
brown with perfect surfaces except for a long hairline scratch through EN in
CENT and over T. NGC graded MS-65 RB but broken out of the slab.
Estimated
Value $1,100-1,500.
Lot 223
1835. Cohen-2, Breen-2,
Rarity-1. Del Bland graded MS-62. Medium brown and mint red with a
short line of light carbon on the neck and some darker carbon along the dentils
on the upper right obverse.
Estimated Value $300-450.
Lot 224
1837 Hulseman's Token.
Low-49. ANACS graded AU-58 and Del Bland graded AU-55. With some
blunt striking on the eagle and on a few high points of the wreath as is often
seen on this popular Hard Times Token. Free from handling marks except for a
tiny nick below D in STANDARD. Medium chocolate brown.
Estimated Value
$75-100.
Lot 225
1837 Hulseman's Token.
Low-49. Del Bland graded EF-40. With some blunt striking as usually
seen on these tokens. Cleaned and nicely retoned to a medium dark chocolate
brown with some flecks of light red around a few devices and faint traces of
verdigris in the fields.
This token design has been traced to Edward
Hulseman of New York by comparing device punches used on other tokens he
created that are known to be his design. It is available in all grades, and we
owe its popularity to Wayte Raymond, who included a space for it in all his
half cent National album pages. From there it was duly entered in the Guide
Book as part of the half cent series where it has remained listed for many
years.
During 1837 America experienced a depression, then known as "Hard
Times". Small change became scarce and many merchants coined their own small
change, usually in one cent denominations and these hard times tokens
circulated freely along with regular mint coinage. Many of these tokens were
advertising pieces with the merchants name and address on them, others had
political motivations and openly criticized President Andrew Jackson's war on
the Bank of the United States or President Van Buren's inept economic
policies.
Apparently Huselman coined large numbers of these half cent tokens
and they remain plentiful today in all grades, except red uncirculated.
Estimated Value $40-50.
Lot 226
1837 Hulseman's Token.
Low-49. Del Bland graded VF-35. With a better than average strike.
Nearly mint state in sharpness but above the eagle is a long, curved scratch
and on the upper left obverse rim is a defect. Cleaned and retoned to a darkish
steel and light brown color.
Estimated Value $20-30.