Feb 18-19, 2002, The Benson Collection Part 2, Sale 13
Lot 1975
1805. Miller-74, Not in
Breen, Rarity-4+. Sharpness of EF-45 but graffiti on the obverse and
possibly mounted. Orange gold in color with coppery red highlights at the
rims. Examination will locate graffiti in the left obverse field, and clusters
of small ticks in Liberty's hair and below her chin. Around the obverse rim,
there are some flattened areas which indicate that this coin may have been
mounted. As always, inspection is a must.
Estimated Value $1,250-1,750.
From the Robert W. Miller, Sr., collection.
Lot 1976
1805. Miller-74, Not in
Breen, Rarity-4+. Sharpness of VF-35 but burnished. The surfaces
have been burnished long ago, and the coin retains a satiny, soft appearance.
Die cracks are noted through the 0 in the date and the last star both into
Liberty. We note some small scratches near the fifth star on the rim, and
scattered ticks on both sides. Decent enough for the grade overall. Another
coin to be inspected.
Estimated Value $1,000-1,300.
From the Robert
W. Miller, Sr., collection.
Lot 1977
1805. Miller-74, Not in
Breen, Rarity-4+. Sharpness of VF-35 but smoothed and repaired. The
rims, face and fields have been smoothed and some scratches are still present.
Well struck from cracked and clashed dies, with obverse radial cracks through
the 0 in the date, last star and heavy clash marks above Liberty's head and
around the reverse periphery too. The rims show signs of being mounted in the
past, with smoothed areas seen on the edge and dentils. Another one to inspect
prior to the sale to arrive at the proper bid.
Estimated Value $800-1,200.
From the Robert W. Miller, Sr., collection.
Lot 1978
1805. Miller-74, Not in
Breen, Rarity-4+. Sharpness of VF-25 but worn as jewelry. Here is
yet another example of this variety. This one has been damaged by being worn as
jewelry for many years and all the devices and edges are worn. On the edge, we
note repairs with most of the reeding now missing. A coin to inspect prior to
bidding.
Estimated Value $600-800.
From the Robert W. Miller, Sr.,
collection.
Lot 1979
1806. Pointed 6, Stars 8 X
5, Miller-75, Not in Breen, Rarity-6. VF-30. On this die, the first
star appears to have been added as an afterthought, and on the reverse, there
is rim crumbling or overlapping dentils just past STATES. Cleaned in the past,
and nicely recovered with coppery hues around the devices. Moderate hairlines
but no other troublesome marks or bumps. Identifiable by a small rim bruise
over the O in OF.
Estimated Value $1,250-1,750.
From the Robert W.
Miller, Sr., collection.
Lot 1980
1806. Pointed 6, Stars 8 X
5, Miller-75, Not in Breen, Rarity-4+. PCGS graded MS-64. The
obverse die was prepared by the proverbial "office boy". Note that the 6 is
very high, with the upper point of that number well up into Liberty's drapery.
In addition, the first star was obviously added as an afterthought, and seems
to be stuffed into the area near Liberty's lowest curl. We can only guess, but
we suspect that the obverse die was originally a twelve star, with the stars
arranged 7X5, when the supervisor, or office boy engraver noticed the error,
and demanded an additional star be added. One simply can't waste dies, as die
steel was very expensive. Adding the additional star was overcome by lapping or
filing off the lowest curl of Liberty, note how incomplete it is with broken
ends appearing both at the top and bottom above the first star. Literally
erasing most of this bottom curl allowed the engraver to squeeze in another
star, which ended up being awkwardly placed where part of the curl used to be,
with two points very nearly touching the next star. Similar corrections to dies
have been noted on coins of the early period at the Federal Mint, another
famous example is the 15 star reverse bust dollar (1799), where too many stars
were placed over the eagle, and the two offending stars were covered over by
extending the clouds over the stars. A few points of the two stars can still be
seen, sticking out from the bottom of the clouds. Thus, the early days at the
Mint presented many challenges, and the employees bumbled along as best they
could.
Splendid surfaces on this coin, with full mint bloom and few signs of
handling. The central reverse has some crossing adjustment marks through the
eagle, and these weaken some of the central devices. Overall, a gorgeous coin
for the grade, and one with the added appeal of the "extra" star being squeezed
in on the obverse. Further, this is one of the finest graded by PCGS, which
notes 4 this high, with none graded higher! Certainly an opportunity for
the alert numismatist, who enjoys the study of the minute details provided in
such rich abundance in these early coins. Color photo.
Estimated Value
$25,000-35,000.
Lot 1981
1806. Pointed 6, Stars 8 X
5. Miller-77, Breen obverse 1, Rarity-7. Sharpness of EF-40 but there
are obverse scratches. This is the obverse for Breen-1, and the reverse was
not listed in his monograph. A few others were offered in the recent Bass
Sales. In particular, the obverse has several long scratches outlining Liberty
with a few more in the fields, a scrape on the 8, and a few more handling marks
than one would expect on the obverse than the grade usually warrants. The
reverse is nicer, and we note a die crack through the tops of UNITED ST, and
middle of MER. Identifiable by a small rim mark above the eighth star. A rare
issue that should still be considered as this variety is seldom offered.
Estimated Value $1,750-UP.
From the Robert W. Miller, Sr.,
collection.
Lot 1982
1806. Pointed 6, Stars 8 X
5. Miller-82, Breen 3-D, Rairty-6+. VF-25. A rare coin which is
seldom offered in any grade. In fact, Robert Miller considered this to be one
of just 2 known, but that was before the massive Harry Bass duplicates hit the
market in the past few years. In the Bass collection, 4 examples were offered
of this rare die pairing. This particular example is the plate coin from the
Miller reference book on half eagles. Moderate handling marks and roughness on
both sides. The devices are sharply struck. Identifiable by a small edge tick
just left of the date, and a minor scratch down the left side of the M in
AMERICA to the fifth feather below on the eagle's wing. An important offering
for the specialist. Early die state before the cud appears over the T of
UNITED.
Estimated Value $2,000-UP.
From the collection of Robert W.
Miller, Sr.
Lot 1983
1806. Round top 6, M-84,
R-2. PCGS graded MS-64. One of the most common half eagles, but not
in this grade! Rich gold in color with undiminished luster and clean surfaces
throughout. The strike is average, with most of the stars sharp, but a few
don't have full centers. Light adjustment marks on the reverse through TED of
UNITED. PCGS has graded 28 this high, with a single coin graded a notch higher.
Color photo.
Estimated Value $15,000-20,000.
Lot 1984
1806. Round top 6, Stars 7
X 6, Miller-84, Breen 5-E, Rarity-2. EF-45. A few surface scratches
on both sides from circulation and there are adjustment marks on the upper
reverse rim. Well struck and still lustrous.
Estimated Value $1,250-1,750.
From the Robert W. Miller, Sr., collection.
Lot 1985
1806. Round top 6, Stars 7
X 6, Miller-84, Breen 5-E, Rarity-2. PCGS graded MS-64. Frosty mint
luster and well struck for this common die variety. Remarkably, these dies held
up very well and quite a large number were coined. Attrition rates were still
very high, and most of these were lost or melted over the years. This one is in
the old style green insert PCGS holder. Further, PCGS has graded 28 this high,
but more importantly, only a single coin is graded higher at MS-65. That makes
this one of the nicest to survive of this important type coin. Rich gold color
with a splash of copper on the right side of the reverse. A very attractive and
visually appealing coin in every way. No adjustment marks and this one is well
struck. Color photo.
Estimated Value $15,000-20,000.
Lot 1986
1807. Miller-85, Breen
1-A, Rarity-2. Sharpness of MS-60 but burnished and cleaned. Well
struck, but the surfaces have been burnished and cleaned, so the coin is too
reflective. One dull mark at the top of the first A in AMERICA.
Estimated
Value $2,500-UP.
From the Robert W. Miller, Sr., collection.
Lot 1987
1807. Miller-87, Breen
2-B, Rarity-6+. AU-50. A rare die pairing which can be recognized by
the 1 just touching the thin curl above, a raised die flaw under the tail of
the R, and on the reverse by large stars and die rust over and behind the
eagle's head. Adjustment marks through the last two stars weakens that area and
on OF too. Average handling marks, and broken out of an NGC slab where it was
graded AU-50.
Estimated Value $2,500-3,000.
From the Robert W.
Miller, Sr., collection.
Lot 1988
1807. Miller 86, Breen
1-B, Rarity-5+. EF-40. Beautiful copper colors on both sides and
well preserved. The only complaint is two small ticks over Liberty's cap, but
these are microscopic. On the reverse, there are traces of adjustment marks
through the lower left wing on the eagle and shield below. A nice coin for the
grade, and worth a good bid.
Estimated Value $1,250-1,750.
From the
Robert W. Miller, Sr., collection.
Lot 1989
1807. Close date, large
stars reverse. Miller-88, Breen 2-C, Rarity-5+. Sharpness of VF-30 but
repaired and smoothed. This one has been cleaned and polished. There are
some rim problems which have been repaired and some scratches smoothed out on
the surfaces, including one on Liberty. One to inspect prior to bidding.
Estimated Value $800-1,000.
From the Robert W. Miller, Sr.,
collection.
Lot 1990
1807. Miller-89, Breen
3-C, Rarity-7. VF-25. An extremely rare coin in any grade, this
particular one has some scratches on Liberty's face and into the right obverse
field. It is an early die state before the obverse die shattered, but does show
the reverse crack from the top arrowhead to the junction of the left wing and
shield. We offered the Bass II coin in our October 2001 Sale, which grades
MS-64. Robert Miller notes that only 4 are known, with a 5th example rumored.
The surfaces show moderate hairlines, but the color is decent and all things
considered this isn't a bad coin to represent the variety. One for the
specialist.
Estimated Value $1,000-1,250.
From the Robert W. Miller,
Sr., collection.
Lot 1991
1807. Miller-90, Breen
4-C, Rarity-5. Sharpness of EF-45 but there is a slight bend in the
planchet. This coin has been slightly bent, and will rock when placed on a
level surface. No signs of surface problems or edge damage, and how this coin
was slightly bent is a mystery. As to the color, the fields are a desirable
shade of orange gold, and much luster remains on both sides. Viewing will note
moderate handling marks when seen with a glass, but they are not too
distracting. The reverse die crack from the arrowhead to the shield is present.
Estimated Value $1,500-2,000.
From the Robert W. Miller, Sr.,
collection.