Feb. 16, 2001, The Benson Collection Part 1, Sale 8
Lot 227
1841. Original, large
berries. Breen-1, Rarity-5. NGC graded Proof 65 Red and Del Bland graded
PR-63. Full mint red, just beginning to tone to brown but the obverse
displays numerous small spots plus some minuscule scratches opposite the end of
the nose and on the reverse over AL in HALF is a thin scratch. The surfaces are
highly reflective and relatively fee from hairlines. Breen's State III, the
most commonly seen die state.
Sharp and well preserved.
Estimated Value
$6,000-7,000.
Lot 228
1849. Large date.
NGC graded AU-55 Brown. A few minor marks on Liberty's neck and
truncation. Nice and even brown color.
Estimated Value $100-125.
Lot 229
1849. Large date. Cohen-1,
Breen-4, Rarity-2. PCGS graded AU-58 and Del Bland graded EF-40.
Sharpness of AU-55 but between stars nine and ten is an edge dent, near
star eleven is a nick and above the head is a light scratch. Medium chocolate
brown with light brown on parts of the hair from excessive rubbing.
On the
reverse fields we note a few minor hairlines, and some of Liberty's curls are a
bit brighter in color from handling. Sharply impressed, as are most of this die
pairing, and the edge dent is extremely minor.
Estimated Value $100-150.
Ex: James G. Macallister 6/7/44 at $1.50.
Lot 230
1850. Cohen-1, Breen-1,
Rarity-2. ANACS graded Proof 60 Brown, and Del Bland graded MS-60.
With a long narrow line of planchet roughness along the denticles on the
upper obverse and around the reverse. Medium dark steel brown with a few tiny
spots on the obverse and a hairline scratch on the bust. Sharply struck but
lacking the full radial lines in the stars necessary to qualify as a
proof.
This coin presents a conundrum. A single set of dies was used to coin
both proofs (two die states no less!) and uncirculated coins. While the graders
at ANACS certified this coin as a Proof, noted copper expert Del Bland viewed
the coin and graded it Mint State-60. The surfaces are not as reflective as
they should be, and one or two stars show slight weakness at the centers,
further there is no fin, or knife rim, commonly seen on Proofs of the era. Once
again, experts differ in their opinions, so buyers need to make up their own
minds. View it carefully to decide for yourself, and as always take a moment to
learn something about grading coins.
Estimated Value $1,750-2,000.
Ex: Superior Galleries 10/89:898 as "Proof-63".
Lot 231
1850. Cohen-1, Breen-1,
Rarity-2. PCGS graded AU-58 and Del Bland graded EF-40. With some
blunt striking. Ten points sharper but between stars eleven and twelve is a
small nick, left of star eleven is a light edge dent and over the first A of
AMERICA is a rim dent. Medium brown with traces of mint red and an excessively
rubbed area around the eye.
Another appealing half cent that is highly
original and pleasing.
Estimated Value $100-150.
Ex: Ira S. Reed
6/15/44 as "Red Unc." for $3.50.
Lot 232
1850. Cohen-1, Breen-1,
Rarity-2. Del Bland graded AU-55. Medium chocolate brown marred only
by a tiny nick at the dentil above the space between N and I in UNITED.
Estimated Value $250-350.
Lot 233
1853. Cohen-1, Breen-1,
Rarity-1. PCGS graded MS-63 Brown and Del Bland graded MS-60. A bit
better but between stars four and five is a minor scratch and below T in UNITED
is a tiny nick. Medium brown with some mint red.
Here is another beautiful
half cent, with choice surfaces and only a few minor handling marks. Greatly
enhanced by the original mint red still adhering in the fields. Sharply struck
and well preserved.
Estimated Value $250-350.
Ex: John Boss, circa
1945 as "Red Unc."
Lot 234
1853. Cohen-1, Breen-1,
Rarity-1. Del Bland graded MS-61. Medium light chocolate brown with
mint red around most devices, especially on the reverse. When the coin is held
at the proper angle and using a glass, faint abrasions can be seen on the chin
and over the right side of star eight is a minor edge dent.
Estimated Value
$275-350.
Lot 235
1854. PCI graded
Proof 63 "Cleaned". This coin has been harshly cleaned, with resulting
lines running through the fields and devices. Certainly a coin to be carefully
examined by prospective buyers before placing a bid. There are a couple of
spots remaining on both sides. Only 30 or so are known in proof, and a coin
that could be retoned to make it much more pleasing in appearance.
Estimated Value $1,500-2,000.
Lot 236
1854. Mint State
Sharpness, but cleaned and carefully retoned with deep red in the fields,
and solid blue tones on Liberty, while not "natural" the effect is quite
beautiful. Boldly struck and well preserved, with scarcely a mark to be found.
Estimated Value $250-UP.
Lot 237
1855. Cohen-1. PCGS
graded MS-65 Red and Brown. Mostly brown with flecks of original red near
the devices. Clean surfaces and a lovely gem example. In an old small PCGS
holder.
Estimated Value $900-1,100.
Lot 238
1855. Cohen-1, Breen-1.
MS-64 Red. Bright red on both sides, with a small area of toning
starting to form on the lower right of the obverse in the field. Minor carbon
spots on both sides, and very flashy. Sharply struck for this date.
Estimated Value $600-700.
Lot 239
1855. Cohen-1, Breen-1,
Rarity-1. PCGS graded MS-63 Red and Brown and Del Bland graded MS-63.
With shallow planchet defects at the denticles over stars seven and ten.
Mint red toning to brown with microscopic evidence of minute carbon specks and
a couple tiny nicks on the chin.
Mostly red on the reverse, the obverse
retains about one-half of the original red color.
Estimated Value $250-400.
Ex: John Boss 8/8/45 as "Red Unc." for $4.
Lot 240
1855. Cohen-1, Breen-1,
Rarity-1. Del Bland graded MS-62. A couple of points better but over
the T in CENT is a circular defect surrounded by a steel blue color. Mint red
toning to brown.
Estimated Value $200-350.
Lot 241
1855. Cohen-1, Breen-1.
Del Bland graded MS-60. Medium brown and free from defects.
Estimated Value $175-250.
Lot 242
1855. Cohen-1, Breen-1,
Rarity-1. Del Bland graded EF-45. Medium dark chocolate brown and
reasonably clean.
Estimated Value $50-75.
Ex: John Boss, circa 1945.
Lot 243
1856. Rust pit on I of
UNITED. Breen-1: 1-A. Rarity-7. PCGS graded Proof 64 Red and Brown.
Nearly full red on both sides with just a bit of shading in the fields and
on top of the devices. A few minor specks, and boldly struck by the dies. These
are almost certainly the original proofs struck, as the same dies were used to
strike the business strike coins of 1856. Furthermore, the fabric and style is
very similar to the 1855 proof originals. An extremely rare coin that should
find a happy home with a half cent specialist. Each star is sharp, and the
devices remain quite crisp. A few stray hairlines can be found, but they are
very light and serious.
The PCGS Population Report states that just 8 are
graded in the various current recognized color permutations, with 4 graded
higher as full gem. That makes this one of the nicest to survive.
Estimated
Value $4,000-5,000.
Lot 244
1857. NGC graded
MS-64 Brown. With some mint red in the fields. Clean surfaces and sharply
impressed.
Estimated Value $350-450.
Lot 245
1857. Cohen-1, Breen-1,
Rarity-2. Del Bland graded MS-64. Full mint red lightly toned with
some very small carbon spots on both sides, some light carbon on the lower
obverse, two small scratches between stars six and seven and one between stars
ten and eleven.
A stunning coin which will no doubt see serious bidding. To
find an 1857 with so much original mint red is a real challenge for the variety
or date collector. Don't let this one get away.
Estimated Value
$1,500-2,000.
Ex: James G. Macallister 6/7/44 as "Unc. Red" for $3.50.
Lot 246
1857. Cohen-1, Breen-1,
Rarity-2. Del Bland graded MS-60. With a low spot in the field
behind the head. Medium steel tan with faded mint red on the reverse and a
darkish spot below O in OF.
Estimated Value $250-325.
Lot 247
1857. Cohen-1, Breen-1,
Rarity-2. PCGS graded AU-58 and Del Bland graded VF-35. Tiny dents
on the chin and on the edge over star one but no other defects. Medium
chocolate brown.
One spot located on the reverse at the top of NI of UNITED.
Estimated Value $150-250.
Lot 248
1849-1856. A group of 10
half cents. Del Bland graded as follows: 1849 F-15; 1850 VG-8; 1851
VF-30; 1851 VF-25; 1851 G-4 heavy reverse edge cuts; 1853 VF-25; 1854
VF-30 recolored; 1854 G-6 heavy edge dents; 1855 VF-20 and
1856 F-15. A nice selection for the date collector with a couple of
extra trading pieces. Lot of 10 coins.
Estimated Value $150-250.