Feb 18-19, 2002, The Benson Collection Part 2, Sale 13
Lot 690
1815. Browning-1, Rarity-1.
NGC graded MS-66. Magnificent color, surfaces and condition!
Deep iridescent blue and gold on both sides, adhering near the devices while
the fields are more satiny silver gray. Sharply impressed with full stars and
curls on Liberty, and similar strength on the reverse devices save for only the
uppermost claws on the eagle. Both dies show minor clash marks. NGC in their
Population Report show only 4 graded this high, with a single coin graded
higher (including one graded MS-65 with an L above the head) while PCGS has
graded one coin as MS-66 with none higher. Hence, this is one of the top half
dozen known of this first year of issue of the new John Reich design. A most
impressive example of this date. It is important to note that many collectors
assembling type sets want the first year of issue, and that keeps demand for
this date high. During the years 1812 to 1815 the War of 1812 was unfolding,
with British ships and troops disrupting the fragile American economy. Silver
was hoarded and the mintage for 1815 quarters was a paltry 89,235. Curiously,
no quarters had been issued since 1807 when the draped bust pieces were last
coined, as the Philadelphia Mint focused their production on copper coins, half
dollars and half eagles.
Many 1815 quarters were actually delivered on
January 10, 1816. Unbeknownst to the Mint, a fire would break out less than
twelve hours after this delivery, which would delay further production of most
coins until late 1817. Perhaps this coin was in that final delivery, and
hoarded as the uncertainty of those early years continued, and somehow survived
the generations to come down to us as this stunning gem.
Estimated Value
$17,500-UP.
Lot 691
1818. Normal date,
Browning-2d. PCGS graded MS-64. Flashy and bright, with no signs of
toning on either side. Blazing mint luster in the fields, and struck from
clashed and cracked dies. Well struck despite the late die state, and a beauty
for the type specialist. PCGS notes in their Population Report that 43 have
been graded this high, with 20 graded higher.
Estimated Value $4,500-5,000.
Lot 692
1821. Browning-3b,
Rarity-1. PCGS graded MS-65. High in the condition census for the
date, this spectacular coin is graced by deep steel gray toning, with darker
highlights near the devices, and lighter hues on the devices. When examined
with a light, glorious blues are seen in the stars, while lighter reddish gold
is seen at the centers. Sharply struck by the dies, with full stars, curls and
even the talons on the eagle. PCGS has graded only 4 this high, with 5 graded
higher for the date. This particular example has a die crack from the edge
through the twelfth star to Liberty's curls, clashed arrowheads at the eighth
star, and shield stripes below Liberty's ear, also from clashing. Exceptional
eye appeal and downright rare in grades even approaching this. A monumental
coin for the type specialist. Color photo.
Estimated Value $10,000-12,500.
Lot 693
1821. B-1, R-2.
VF-20. Cleaned and nicely retoned with deep green and gold around
the periphery, steel gray at the centers.
Estimated Value $180-220.
From the Benson collection and purchased from Ira S. Reed on May 20,
1944 for $2.25.
Lot 694
1823. 3 over 2, Browning-1,
Rarity-6+. PCGS graded AU-55. This is certainly one of the very
finest known of this supremely rare date, high in the Condition Census of the
top six specimens all behind the single Proof example known. The strike is
extremely sharp, and this is an early die state before the crack appears right
of the date up to the center dot on Liberty, as seen on a few lower grade
examples, which no doubt account for the rarity of this date. Perhaps 20 are
known in all grades. Breen, in his Encyclopedia, individually lists 13
examples, with just 3 that can be called EF or better. Reviewing the PCGS and
NGC Population reports seems to indicate that several are known, PCGS notes 2
in AU-55, and one in AU-58, none in Mint State above while NGC shows 1 as
AU-55, 1 as AU-58 and 1 as MS-61, and the sole Proof as PF-64. With the cluster
of high grade specimens reported, we suspect that there may be some duplication
in the two reports, and a days study with a good coin auction library would
certainly nail down the number of high grade examples known once some plate
matching is done from prior auction sales.
Toned a deep blue gray color,
with moderate handling marks on both sides from very brief circulation.
Identifiable by a small cluster of microscopic scrapes below Liberty's ear, and
a few ticks between stars nine and ten, and some faint parallel scrapes above
the Y of LIBERTY in the folds of the cap. On the reverse, we note some tiny
marks below the wings of the eagle near the juncture with his body. Currently
in PCGS holder #4664906. An extreme rarity in any grade, and especially this
nice. Better than the recent sale of the Eliasberg example, this coin should
have a higher technical grade, with less wear on the high points. A foremost
opportunity for the Bust quarter specialist, and a date which has been offered
a couple of times in the past six years. Color photo.
Estimated Value
$27,500-UP.
This coin is likely the same specimen from Stack's Anderson
DuPont Sale, November 1954, lot 1798 or the specimen from Stack's 1976 ANA
Sale, August 1976, lot 956, but it is hard to match to these early plates. It
is possibly a new specimen that is otherwise unrecorded in auction history. One
other possibility is the 1947 ANA (Kreisberg/Kosoff), lot 16 specimen.
Lot 695
1825. 5 over 4 over 3.
Browning-2, Rarity-2. PCGS graded MS-65. Silvery gray in color at
the centers, with mint fresh luster beneath, and deeper blues and golds at the
rims. Well struck throughout, and downright rare in gem grades. Each of the
obverse stars is full and complete, and the only weakness we could find was on
a few of the reverse wing feathers. Loaded with eye appeal, and rarely
encountered so fine. PCGS has graded 2 this high, with 4 graded higher of this
hodge podge overdate issue.
Estimated Value $10,000-UP.
Lot 696
1828. Browning-4. Quarter
dollar. Extremely Rare Proof Issue and 1828 JR-1 Dime Proof. The Quarter
in NGC graded PF-62 and the 1828 dime is not certified but grades Proof 63.
The 1828 Quarter is a rare proof issue and it has an illustrious pedigree. The
coin itself is toned with antique gold hues on both sides, fading to deep blue
at the rims, and brilliant at the centers. As expected, the mirror fields show
moderate disturbances and hairlines from a past cleaning, but these are not too
distracting. Breen, in his Proofs Encyclopedia, lists seven known of this
variety, with a few others not attributed, as well as a few proofs from other
die pairings. This coin is the first listed for the variety in that reference
work. All told, perhaps a dozen were coined in proof. Examination of the strike
will note no signs of weakness on the stars, branch, claws or feathers, areas
which are often poorly struck on these.
As to the 1828 dime, it has
antique steel gray in color with deeper blue tones at the rims of both sides.
This is one of just five proofs of this date that are confirmed to exist, and
as Breen notes others that claim to be proof lack the proper striking
qualities. Listed as #3 in Breen's Proof Encyclopedia, and a well known and
pedigreed specimen of this rare proof issue. The strike is outstanding, many of
the reverse letters show slight doubling from the second strike, and both sides
have the knife rim familiar to proof collectors. Identifiable by a tiny
planchet flaw between the wing and the M of AMERICA. We note tiny rust pits
below the left side of the eagle's neck.
Our consignor wanted these two
coins sold together as they been together pretty much since their first known
auction appearance in 1898. Truly an exceptional pair for the specialist to
long enjoy. Lot of 2 coins.
Estimated Value $5,500-UP.
The Quarter
is from S. H. and H. C. Chapman's sale of the Thomas Cleneay Collection,
12/9-13/1890: 1340; Christian Allenburger Sale, 1948: 842; New Netherlands (T.
James Clark) 47th Sale, 1956: 1514; Stack's Eugene Gardner Collection Sale
1965: 1630; RARCOA's session of Auction '82, 1982:713; Superior's Session of
Auction '90, 1990:1076; Bowers and Merena's Miller Sale: 11-1992: 1675.
The
dime is from S. H. and H. C. Chapman's sale of the Thomas Cleneay Collection,
12/9-13/1890: 1501; exhibited at the ANS in 1914; Lester Merkin Sale, April 17,
1970, lot 484; Kamal Ahwash, April 24, 1979 privately; Stack's sale of the
Allen Lovejoy Collection, 10/16/90:89 and Bowers and Merena's Miller Sale
11/92:1674.
Lot 697
1832. B-1, R-1. PCGS
graded AU-53. Original tawny gold toning around the periphery and sharply
struck. Briefly circulated, and one for the collector. Subdued luster in the
fields, and a few faint blotches on the reverse.
Estimated Value $450-550.
From the Benson collection and purchased from James G. Macallister on
April 3, 1944 for $2.50 as "Uncirculated".
Lot 698
1835 B-1, Rarity-1.
MS-63 Prooflike. Choice and lustrous with good color and clean
surfaces. A few hairlines account for the grade, and we note a few microscopic
rim ticks on the reverse. Boldly struck and a perfect coin for the type
collector. The reverse has a long thin crack through STA to RIC. Prooflike in
the fields.
Estimated Value $1,500-2,000.
Lot 699
1837. Browning-1, Rarity-4.
PCGS graded MS-64. Possibly the finest known of this variety, and
certainly well up in the Condition Census for the Browning-1 die pairing.
Quickly identifiable by a crack through the first star, above the date, to the
last two stars on the right, and another crack on the reverse through D STATE
to the rims above. Sharp on all but a few upper stars, and very frosty and
white at the centers, delicate gold around the periphery. We note a few very
light hairlines, including a thin one down Liberty's neck, but the surfaces and
eye appeal certainly approach that of a gem example. The reverse die is well
executed, but may have been lapped as the right wing of the eagle shows weak
definition on this inside near the shield. Hopefully, this one will sell to a
variety collector who can study the minor cracks and nuances of this scarce
late die state. PCGS has graded 15 this high, with 15 graded higher of the
date.
Estimated Value $3,500-4,000.
Lot 700
1838. Browning-1, Rarity-1.
PCGS graded MS-62. Silvery white and without signs of toning on this
one. One tick is noted at the top left wing of the eagle. This is the final
year of issue of this type. Decent luster and a good strike too.
Estimated
Value $900-1,000.