Feb. 16, 2001, The Benson Collection Part 1, Sale 8
Lot 288
1796. Draped Bust.
Sheldon-98, High Rarity-3. Del Bland graded VG-10. Sharpness of
Fine-15, but touching the neck is a pitted spot, some small nicks and pit marks
are scattered around the obverse which shows a small edge dent at K7½,
in the field behind the neck are some scratches and the reverse is lightly
porous. Medium dark steel brown, light brown high points. This coin looks
better than it sounds. Another appealing cent for the specialist who needs this
variety.
Estimated Value $900-1,300.
Ex: 1957 ANA (Federal Coin
Exchange): 821; Dr. Charles L. Ruby 12/72; Superior Stamp & Coin; Superior
Galleries 8/75:93; Roger S. Cohen, Jr.; Superior Galleries 2/92:774; Chris
Victor-McCawley (CVM) F.P.L. #37 9/92: Dr. Willard J. Carmel, Jr., Superior
Stamp & Coin 9/97:193.
Lot 289
1796. Draped Bust, reverse
of 1796. Sheldon-99, Rarity-5. PCGS graded VF-20 and Del Bland graded
F-15. A lovely medium chocolate brown example of this rare variety and
exceptionally clean and desirable. Opposite the face near the rim are two very
small defects which are hardly worth mentioning, elsewhere a couple others can
be found. Tied with the Robinson S. Brown, Jr. and the Warfield pieces for
fourth finest, but the coin offered here is easily the most appealing of the
three. State I.
This coin presents an exciting opportunity for the
specialist, with all the higher grade coins in the Condition Census locked away
in collections or held by the ANS, this coin is clearly the finest available of
the variety. Furthermore, the eye appeal cannot be overstated. The obverse is
exceptional for the grade, while the reverse does have very minor red coloring
around the wreath and below the fraction. Apparently the obverse die failed
quickly in this second use, and few coins are known of this die pairing. A
delight for the specialist.
Estimated Value $2,500-UP.
Ex. Howard R.
Newcomb; J. C. Morgenthau & Co. #458 2/45:129 at $19.
Lot 290
1796. "LIHERTY" error.
Sheldon-104, High Rarity-3. Del Bland graded VF-20. Sharpness of
Extremely Fine-45 but pitting on the upper obverse, two very long pin scratches
through Liberty, many light shorter scratches behind the bow, fine roughness on
both sides and a minor edge dent over I in AMERICA. Dark olive brown. One of
the more popular varieties due to its listing in the Guide Book and
scarce enough to always command a premium.
Estimated Value $600-1,000.
Ex: Denis W. Loring.
Lot 291
1796. Draped Bust, reverse
of 1797. Sheldon-110, High Rarity-2. Del Bland graded VF-20.
Sharpness of Very Fine 35, but on the obverse are some edge dents, on the
chin is a pit mark, in the right obverse field is a small rough spot and on the
reverse are a couple small nicks. Darkish steel brown. State I.
Only light
wear is noted, and most of Liberty's hair curls are sharply defined. A nice
cent, despite its circulation problems.
Estimated Value $750-1,250.
Ex. Ira S. Reed, privately 12/15/44 at $35.
Lot 292
1796. Draped Bust.
Sheldon-110, High Rarity-2. Del Bland graded VG-10. Sharpness of
Fine-15 but a dark red color and porosity through LIBERTY and throughout most
of the right obverse field and some long hairline scratches on the reverse.
Darkish steel brown.
Estimated Value $400-600.
Lot 293
1796. Draped Bust.
Sheldon-115, High Rarity-3. Del Bland graded VG-7. With the usual
blunt striking on the lower left obverse and upper reverse obliterating much of
the device detail. Lightly porous dark olive surfaces with lighter high points.
Curved die crack through the date.
Estimated Value $350-550.
Lot 294
1796. Draped Bust, reverse
of 1797. Sheldon-119, Rarity-3. PCGS graded MS-62 Brown and Del Bland
graded AU-55. With a small planchet defect near the dentils opposite the
neck. Mint State sharpness but throughout the right obverse are tiny handling
marks some of which are quite possibly the result of pre-striking planchet
defects. Medium chocolate brown.
Examination and logic dictate that the
planchet of this piece was not perfect. The small planchet defect near the
right obverse rim is evidence that the copper drawing rollers did not flatten
out all the minor surface imperfections of the large copper ingot that was
being rolled and pressed into a copper sheet to make planchets. These
unimportant surface marks are frequently seen on early copper coins, and are
simply evidence of the working conditions and primitive equipment used at the
time. What is important to note is that this is a beautiful coin that boasts
mint fresh surfaces and appealing color. Free of spots and corrosion which are
frequently seen, this coin will be a stunning addition to an advanced
collection.
Estimated Value $4,000-5,000.
Ex: Henry Chapman: Henry
Chapman 6/09:745: A. J. "Alvin" Fink; H.O. Granberg; William H. Woodin; The
United States Coin Co. 5/15:203; George E. Chatillon; B. Max Mehl M.B.S. #92
11/38:1716: Milton A. Holmes: Stack's 10/60:1391; Dr. E. Yale Clarke; Stack's
10/75:48; Paramount International Corp. F.P.L. #12, 1976; Paramount
International Coin Corp. F.P.L.'s 1977-78; Paramount International Coin Corp.
9/78:8; Paramount International Coin Corp's F.P. L.'s 1979; Paramount
International Coin Corp 4/79:4; Paramount International Coin Corp; Paramount
International Coin Corp. 11/79:1046.
Lot 295
1797. Reverse of 1797,
stems, gripped edge. Sheldon-120b, Rarity-2. Del Bland graded VF-30.
Sharpness of Extremely Fine 40, but light roughness can be seen on both
sides and the obverse fields exhibit a few microscopic scratches left over
after a very light burnishing failed to remove them. Dark olive.
Boldly
struck and well preserved for this die pairing, with typical roughness from a
damp environment. An appealing cent, and one which should attract considerable
bidding.
Estimated Value $750-1,250.
Ex. Ira S. Reed, privately
12/15/44 at $35.
Lot 296
1797. Gripped edge, reverse
of 1796. Sheldon-121b, Rarity-3. Del Bland graded Fine-15. Ten
points sharper but uniformly and lightly porous with a minute nick in the hair
behind the eye. Dark olive.
Estimated Value $500-1,000.
Ex: Kagin's
Numismatic Auctions #311 5/78:52; Dr. Willard J. Carmel, Jr.; Wes Rasmussen:
Early America Coppers 5/96:125; Alan J. Prescott; Early American Coppers
4/99:188.
Lot 297
1797. Sheldon-126,
Rarity-3. Del Bland graded VF-30. Excellent surfaces, the obverse
medium light brown with some olive overtones, the reverse light and darker
brown, both sides struck off center. Flawless and very attractive.
Estimated Value $1,500-2,000.
Ex: Joseph F. Saum: Mayflower Coin
Auctions 3/57:162; Willard C. Blaisdell; Del Bland; Glenn A. Kemp 6/22/86; Del
Bland; Dr. Willard J. Carmel, Jr; Superior Stamp & Coin 9/97:209.
Lot 298
1797. Sheldon-128, Low
Rarity-3. Del Bland graded VF-30. Sharpness of Extremely Fine-45 but
behind the lowest curl is an edge cut and on both sides are many small nicks.
Medium dark chocolate brown.
Estimated Value $750-1,250.
Ex: New
England Rare Coin Auctions 7/78:73; Dr. Willard J. Carmel, Jr., Jack H. Beymer
8/4/82; Jack H. Robinson: Superior Galleries 1/89: 250; Jack H. Beymer; Grant
O. Reed; Superior Stamp & Coin 9/98:1162.
Lot 299
1797. Off-center.
Sheldon-128, Low Rarity-3. Del Bland graded VG-7. Struck about
fifteen percent off-center on both sides, the obverse at K8 and the reverse at
K10½. Slightly sharper but fine porosity is evenly dispersed around both
sides. Dark steel brown.
Estimated Value $400-500.
Lot 300
1797. Reverse of 1797,
stemless. Sheldon-133, Low Rarity-5. Del Bland graded VG-10.
Sharpness of VF-30 but porous with a long faint scratch across the neck and
hair and a small rim dent over C in AMERICA. Darkish steel brown, lighter high
points.
Estimated Value $250-375.
Ex: Bowers & Merena, 3/96:141.
Lot 301
1797. Sheldon-135, High
Rarity-3. Del Bland graded VF-30. Sharpness of Extremely Fine-45 but
minutely rough areas on the obverse and a couple on the reverse, also a tiny
nick in the upper hair, cleaned and nicely retoned to a dark olive steel color.
Estimated Value $750-1,250.
Lot 302
1798. Large date.
Sheldon-166, Rarity-1. Del Bland graded EF-40. With weak striking on
the tops of LIBERTY and at the first A in AMERICA. Lovely medium chocolate
brown surfaces with traces of reddish tan throughout the reverse and marred
only by a small nick on top of E on the obverse. Perfect for a high quality
date or type set.
Estimated Value $1,250-2,250.
Ex: Hollinbeck Kagin
Coin Co.: Federal Brand Enterprises 9/66:39: Hollinbeck Kagin Coin Co.;
Hollinbeck Kagin Coin Co. MBS #279: 9/68:1151: Hollinbeck Kagin Coin Co.: A. M.
"Art" Kagin 10/6/89: Chris Victor-McCawley (CVM): Thomas D. Reynolds: Early
American Coppers 4/2000:204.
Lot 303
1798. Large date.
Sheldon-146, Rarity-5. Del Bland graded Good-6. Somewhat sharper but
uniformly and lightly rough with two very small obverse edge nicks. Dark steel
brown.
Estimated Value $300-500.
Lot 304
1798. Large date.
Sheldon-147, Low Rarity-5. Del Bland graded VG-10. Sharpness of Very
Fine-20 but lightly rough on the obverse, more so on the reverse. Below the
point of the bust is a light edge dent and between C and A in AMERICA is a
corrosion spot. Dark olive.
Estimated Value $750-1,250.
Ex:
Purchased unattributed from Western Rare Coins & Stamps in 7/75 by Thomas D.
Reynolds; Clay Everhart.
Lot 305
1798. Large date, Style 1
hair. Sheldon-148, Rarity-2. Del Bland graded VF-30. There are
shallow low areas on both sides. Under a glass a nick or two become visible,
these are mentioned only for the sake of accuracy. Mixed light tan and medium
dark steel brown. Tied for ninth finest known with four other examples but in
heavy demand as a variety.
The demand is from collectors who need a Style 1
hair, large 8 variety for their Guide Book collections, as well as
constant demand from Large Cent variety collectors. Furthermore, this coin is
greatly enhanced by the Newcomb pedigree, and having been off the market for 56
years! Keep that in mind when calculating your bid.
Estimated Value
$750-1,250.
Ex. Howard R. Newcomb; J. C. Morgenthau & Co. #458 2/45:187
at $30.
Lot 306
1798. 8 over 7.
Sheldon-151, High Rarity-3. Del Bland graded VG-10. With blunt
striking as usually seen on this variety. Sharpness of Extremely Fine 40 but
scratches and small abrasions exist on the right half of the obverse, on the
bust is a lightly corroded area, more light corrosion is scattered around the
reverse, at the left base of F is a pit mark and the coin has been cleaned and
nicely retoned to a dark reddish steel color. Not as bad in appearance as the
description makes it sound.
The overdate is strong, and the obverse surface
problems are not too deep or problematic. Struck a bit off-center with a wide
rim below the date and to the left on the obverse, similar on the reverse, with
the wide rim at the top and right side; obviously the dies were not lined up
when these were struck, accounting for the blunt striking. On the reverse, OF
AME is weak. This coin has a lot of detail for the grade assigned and we expect
a strong price despite the minor problems.
Estimated Value $1,500-2,500.
Ex. Dr. Christian A. Allenburger; B. Max Mehl M.B.S. 111 3/48:433 as
"D-111 (S-150)" at $25.
Lot 307
1798. 8 over 7.
Sheldon-151, High Rarity-3. Del Bland graded VG-7. Darkish olive
brown with some light dents around the denomination and a heavier rim dent over
M in AMERICA.
Estimated Value $250-325.
Lot 308
1798. Small date.
Sheldon-157, Rarity-2. Del Bland graded EF-40. Sharper by five
points but behind the bow is a thin vertical scratch and another one runs from
the top of E in CENT to the rim between T and E in STATES, both of these
blending so well into the patina that they are not readily visible. Both dies
cracked and heavily rusted. Medium dark steel brown with tan high points.
Highly attractive and very desirable.
Estimated Value $2,000-3,000.
Ex: Joe Tomasko, Jr., 9/89.