Oct 1-2, 2001, The George Mouhtouris Collection, Sale 11
Lot 949
1807. Small stars, O-113, R-2. EF-40. John Reich came to the United States as an indentured servant in order to escape the Napoleonic Wars, soon he was one of the finest engravers in the
United States and was known to Mint Officials by 1801. However, Mint Engraver Robert Scot did all he could to keep Reich out of the Mint, and thus Scot insured his continued employment. By 1807 Scot's failing eyesight had become enough of a concern
to Mint officials that they overruled Scot and Reich was hired as an Assistant Engraver for $600 per year (Breen's Encyclopedia). Reich was given the assignment to redesign silver and gold coinage. One of the first denominations was the half dollar,
which employed a buxom rendition of Liberty wearing a cap of freedom, with a relaxed American eagle on the reverse. During 1807, some of the obverse dies employed large stars, others small stars as seen on this coin. It is widely believed that Reich
"signed" his dies by using a star in the final position with a small notch on the outer point facing the rim.
This particular coin retains some luster in the fields and is generally untoned save for the periphery which shows some gray and blue
tones. Average hairlines.
Estimated Value $500-600.
Lot 950
1807. Small stars, O-113a, R-3. EF-40. A late die state that shows extensive cracks on the obverse and well developed cracks on the reverse too. Nicely struck by the dies, with nice
surfaces for the grade. Liberty's face has an area of roughness which extends down to her chest.
Estimated Value $450-500.
Lot 951
1807. Large stars, 50 over 20, O-112, R-1. VF-30. Light steel gray in color and average for the grade. We see moderate hairlines and minimal handling marks on both sides. The upper left
curl of the 2 is plainly visible left of the 5 in the denomination. A good strike, with full stars and adequate definition on Liberty's curls and on the eagle's feathers.
Estimated Value $250-350.
Lot 952
1807. Large stars, 50 over 20, O-111b, The Bearded Goddess, R-5. VF-25. The Bearded Goddess variety is so named because of the unusual die break which connects Liberty's chin with her
chest. On this particular coin the die break is extensive, continuing down to the rim left of the date, and up through the E of LIBERTY in her cap. Dark steel gray in color, with minor wipe lines as nearly always seen on Bust half dollars. Two rim
knocks, one above her cap, the other right of the C in the denomination.
Estimated Value $1,000-1,250.
Lot 953
1808. 8 over 7, O-101, R-1. EF-40. Nice color and surfaces save for moderate hairlines which blend will in well with the steel gray color with blue at the edge. Lighter shades on the
face and neck, as well as the upper curls. One tick above Liberty's cap on the edge.
Estimated Value $200-250.
Lot 954
1808 O-104. MS-63. Glowing luster and well struck for this early date. Still white from a recent dipping, but enough luster remains to dazzle the eye. These early date half dollars are
always in feverish demand, and for good reason, they are rare! One for the date collector or variety specialist.
Estimated Value $2,000-2,500.
Lot 955
1808, O-104, R-2. AU-50. This one is silvery-white with good luster and a bit of toning on the upper obverse. Minor adjustment marks through the central reverse. Average strike for the
variety, hence weak at the centers. Moderate hairlines when examined, but no other faults worth noting.
Estimated Value $350-450.
Lot 956
1809. Normal edge, O-105, R-2 and 1810 O-105, R-2. The 1809 grades VF-30 and is a nice steel gray coin, with the usual weakness on the left wing of the eagle and the 1810 grades VF-25.
Both are nice for the grade. Lot of 2 coins.
Estimated Value $150-200.
Lot 957
1809. Experimental edge, "IIIII" between words, O-109b, R-4. AU-50. This is the scarcer late die state of this variety that shows lumps along the crack through AMERICA and the top two
arrowheads. Examination notes that the surfaces have been cleaned or lightly polished long ago, and gold toning has returned to the periphery. There is a series of faint scratches on the central obverse but these should continue to tone over if
given a chance. A decent coin for the grade.
Estimated Value $350-450.
Lot 958
1811. 11 over 10, O-101, R-1. VF-30. A choice coin for the grade that boasts hints of luster in the stars and delicate gold toning there, with blues near the edge and steel gray for the
balance. One tiny tick above Liberty's cap and another below the denomination on the edge. Quality surfaces that show few signs of cleaning or handling otherwise.
Estimated Value $150-200.
Lot 959
1811. Small 8, O-111, R-1. EF-45. Silvery-gray in color with nice luster in the protected areas. Delicate blue and gold toning around the periphery and an average strike, with weak stars
on the left. A problem-free example that is very eye appealing and downright nice for the grade.
Estimated Value $150-200.
Lot 960
1811. Large 8, O-104a, R-1. AU-55. One of the prettiest coins in this extensive collection, the surfaces retain much of the original luster and the coin has light gold and blue toning
around the periphery. Under a strong glass a couple of thin hairlines can be seen on Liberty, and some goofball tried to remove a planchet flaw on Liberty's chest with a pin, but this is very tiny. A coin many will love.
Estimated Value
$300-400.
Lot 961
1812. 2 over 1, small 8, O-102a, R-2. EF-40. Medium steel gray in color and well struck by the dies. A late die state which exhibits clash marks and the die crack through the date, and
with devices drawn towards the edge. Some of the edge letters caused low areas on the reverse rim, and these are not rim marks, but are a function of worn dies and wobbly equipment, as the low areas correspond to the edge device lettering.
Estimated Value $150-200.
Lot 962
1812, O-104a. ANACS graded Sharpness of AU-50 Net EF 40. Steel gray with rather extensive hairlines from a past cleaning. No rim bumps or other problems.
Estimated Value $80-100.
Lot 963
1812. Normal date, O-104a, R-1. AU-50. Excellent luster in the fields and quite nice for the grade. Alluring gold toning around the periphery fades to brilliant white at the centers of
each side, the reverse with a bit less toning. Problem free surfaces that show faint hairlines and no other significant problems. Later die state with all the noted cracks present plus an additional crack on the obverse through the first star,
Liberty's drapery, to the top serif of the first 1 in the date.
Estimated Value $250-300.
Lot 964
1812, 1825, 1830 and 1834 Bust Half Dollars. These each grade from Good to Very Fine, and most have been cleaned with resulting hairlines. Lot of 4 coins.
Estimated Value $100-125.
Lot 965
1813 O-108, R-4. AU-50. This is a nice example of the scarce early die state of this variety. The coin is toned a an even gray color on the obverse, while the reverse is both russet and
green in color. We note a long pin scratch across Liberty's chest nearly to her lower curl, but it is hidden by the toning. Moderate hairlines on both sides, as nearly always seen, but they are toned over and not too distracting.
Estimated Value
$300-350.
Lot 966
1813, O-107a, R-1. AU-50. This is a nice example of one of the more shattered dies of the series. The obverse die is cracked heavily through the date and stars, while the reverse is
similarly cracked, and both dies show heavy clash marks. Obviously, no new dies were available when a large quotient of Bust half dollars needed to be produced. Examination will show moderate hairlines from a past cleaning, and this one has been
more harshly cleaned than most, but still retains some luster.
Estimated Value $250-350.
Lot 967
1813. 50C over "UNI", O-101, R-2. EF-45. One of the classic errors of the period and highly sought-after by a multitude of collectors. This particular example is light silvery-gray in
color, and is just starting to tone back from a light polishing. We note a thin pin scratch encircling both the obverse and reverse, above the lettering and devices, nearly to the dentils. Moderate handling marks on both sides, and a couple of small
dings on the edge. Better than we make it sound, but one to be inspected first before bidding.
Estimated Value $250-350.
Lot 968
1814. 4 over 3, O-101a, R-2. AU-50. A classic example of this scarce and popular coin, the overdate is clear with the upper bar of the 3 easily visible at the top of the 4. The obverse
and reverse die show strong clash marks and cracks. As to the surfaces, this coin is very nice, we see no major signs of contact or rim bumps, just the usual and ever-present hairlines in the fields, but they are relatively light.
Estimated
Value $550-650.
Lot 969
1814. E over A in "STATES", O-108a, R-1. AU-55. A lustrous beauty that has gunmetal blue in areas but is mostly steel gray. Well struck from cracked and clashed dies, the only weakness
is on the eagle's neck and left wing, which is diagnostic for this variety. The featured E over A in STATES is quite clear, as always, and long listing in the Guide Book has keep demand high for this variety. Minor breaks in the toning on the
face and chest of Liberty, in the areas where the wear naturally occurs. An impressive example of this sought-after coin.
Estimated Value $650-750.
Lot 970
1814. O-105a, the "single leaf", R-4. VF-35. One of more popular varieties in this die state as the upper pair of olive leaves has been reduced to a single leaf by heavy die lapping.
This coin is toned a dark gray in color, with lighter silver on the upper devices, and a minor stain above Liberty's cap. A few minor surface scratches, expected for the grade. Always in strong demand because of its long listing in the Guide
Book and popular with variety collectors as well.
Estimated Value $300-400.
Lot 971
1814 O-102 and 1814 O-108a E over A in STATES. The O-102 grades EF-40, but has been cleaned and retoned with dark gold and blue at the periphery, while the 1814 O-108a grades EF-40 and is a
pleasing gray color. A nice pair overall. Lot of 2 coins.
Estimated Value $200-250.
Lot 972
1815. 5 over 2, O-101, R-2. EF-40. This coin has been cleaned and carefully retoned with deep blue and gold around the periphery and bright silver at the centers. Moderate handling marks
and hairlines, as well as a minor rim ding at the point of the middle arrowhead. Struck from clashed dies, as are virtually all seen of this date.
Why were so few minted in 1815? The War of 1812 had resulted in an embargo by the British fleet of
American ports, and the importation of copper planchets from Englands Boulton & Watt firm, had been halted, and the embargo continued through 1815. During a war, the uncertainties of the outcome cause people to hoard cash, especially gold and
silver. Thus, very little gold or silver was given to the Philadelphia Mint for coining, and coinage came to a virtual halt. Further, the Mint had a terrible fire in January of 1816, which curtailed coinage until late 1817. Hence, 47,150 half
dollars were produced in 1815, a fraction of prior years issues.
Estimated Value $2,000-2,500.
Lot 973
1817. 7 over 3, O-101a, R-2. EF-40. This coin has good eye appeal and some luster near the devices. However, close examination notes light surface scratches across the high points of the
obverse which appear fresh in nature. In time, the coin should continue to tone and these will not be as distracting. One of the most visible overdates in American numismatics, the 7/3 feature is plain to the unaided eye. We note a very late die
state with extensive clashing, including ERICA through the last few stars, the denomination above Liberty's cap, wings from the eagle in the field, and rusted dies in evidence.
Estimated Value $500-600.