Feb. 16, 2001, The Benson Collection Part 1, Sale 8
Lot 309
1798. Small date.
Sheldon-157, Rarity-2. Del Bland graded VF-20. Five points sharper
but very small edge nicks between B and E and left of O in OF are some light
scratches through the dentils opposite the neck and through L. Perfect dies.
Medium dark steel brown, the obverse mottled with deep reddish olive tones.
Estimated Value $550-850.
Lot 310
1798. Small date.
Sheldon-163, Low Rarity-4. Del Bland graded VG-10. Sharpness of Very
Fine-20 but darkish olive and lightly rough with a small edge dent at
K6½ on the reverse. Not as bad as it sounds.
Estimated Value
$500-800.
Ex: Chris Victor-McCawley (CVM) 10/85: Jack H. Robinson:
Superior Galleries 1/89:328: Charles L. Wiggins: McLaughlin & Robinson Coins
#4392 9/89:266.
Lot 311
1798. Small date.
Sheldon-164, Low Rarity-4. Del Bland graded VF-30. Sharpness of
Extremely Fine-40 but the surfaces are dark olive and not perfectly smooth.
From the forelock to the cheek is a thin scratch and below N in ONE is a plain
nick.
Estimated Value $2,000-UP.
Ex: James R. McGuigan 8/97.
Lot 312
1798. Style 2 hair.
Sheldon-168, Rarity-3. Sharpness of EF-40 but there are some light marks
on both sides. This one was cleaned long ago and now retoned a steel brown
with blue high lights. The surfaces show some fine scratches, and a tiny edge
cut left of the date, and there is a small dent in the field behind Liberty's
middle curl. There are die cracks through the reverse lettering. A decent coin
for the grade.
Estimated Value $500-700.
Lot 313
1798. Style 2 hair.
Sheldon-169, Low Rarity-3. Del Bland graded Fine-12. Sharpness of
Very Fine-25 but on the lower neck and bust is a large shallow area where some
sort of defect was removed and on each side is a tiny edge nick. Cleaned and
nicely retoned decades ago to dark olive with traces of deep red around the
devices.
Estimated Value $400-800.
Lot 314
1798. Style 2 hair.
Sheldon-170, Rarity-3. Del Bland graded VF-30. Five points sharper
but on both sides are some minor handling marks consistent with the grade and
through the first T in STATES and below AM is some light roughness. Somewhat
mottled light and medium brown. A very nice cent.
Thought to be at the lower
end of the Condition Census.
Estimated Value $1,500-2,500.
Ex:
Superior Galleries 2/76:1443.
Lot 315
1798. Style 1 hair.
Sheldon-170, Rarity-3. Del Bland graded VF-30. There is a planchet
defect from the forehead into the hair. Sharpness of Extremely Fine 45 but
light corrosion areas are visible behind the head and through the lowest curl,
in the right obverse field and on the back of the head are a couple small light
dents, below O of ONE is a nick and faint roughness exists throughout the
reverse. Mottled dark olive and golden brown, the surfaces glossy from a
protective coat of wax. Perfect obverse die.
Sharply struck on Liberty,
weaker on the peripheral devices, the reverse more balanced in strike. All in
all, a lovely cent and perfect to represent this scarce variety.
Estimated
Value $750-1,250.
Ex. James G. Macallister 2/20/45 as "Ex. Fine" at $20.
Lot 316
1798. Sheldon-170,
Rarity-3. Del Bland graded Fine-12. Clean medium light brown, the
reverse darker. A nice cent.
Estimated Value $275-325.
Lot 317
1798. Sheldon-172, High
Rarity-2. Del Bland graded VF-25. Nearly ten points sharper but in
the field behind the neck are two ancient pin scratches, on the upper obverse
edge are three small dents and on the same side are a few very small nicks as
old as the pin scratches. Late die state. Medium dark steel brown with brick
red overtones.
Estimated Value $750-1,250.
Ex: Douglas F. Bird 6/85:
Jack H. Robinson: Superior Galleries 1/89:351.
Lot 318
1798. Small date.
Sheldon-175, Rarity-4. Del Bland graded VF-25. At least five points
sharper but the surfaces are not perfectly smooth and on the face is a tiny
nick. Dark olive, brown high points.
Estimated Value $850-1,250.
Ex:
Bowers and Merena 3/98: 156.
Lot 319
1798. Small date.
Sheldon-182, High Rarity-3. PCGS graded EF-45. Sharpness of a higher
grade but a few small edge dents, mostly on the obverse, and some small nicks
on the upper obverse. Medium dark chocolate brown.
Estimated Value
$1,500-2,500.
Ex: Worthy Coin Company Bid Board Sale 4/91:800; Rob
Weiner.
Lot 320
1798. Small date.
Sheldon-184, Low Rarity-2. Del Bland graded VF-35. With a small
planchet lamination on the reverse rim. Sharpness of nearly EF-45 but in the
right obverse field and on Liberty are several small nicks and on the face is a
fine scratch.
The lamination is over I in AMERICA, not too deep or
distracting. This one is well balanced and preserved, with cascading curls on
Liberty which show decidedly little wear. Truly a fine acquisition for the
numismatist.
Estimated Value $1,000-1,500.
Ex: Brown's (Edinborough,
Scotland) 10/14/55; Eugene Exman; C. Douglas Smith; Jerry A. Bobbe; Del Bland;
Roger S. Cohen, Jr., Superior Galleries 2/92:879; Chris Victor-McCawley (CVM).
Lot 321
1798. Small date.
Sheldon-185, High Rarity-2. Del Bland graded Fine-12. Medium steel
brown, quite clean and attractive. This is the usual die state with the obverse
crack through Y of LIBERTY and in the field below, but no rim break on the
reverse.
Estimated Value $200-275.
Ex: Bowers and Merena Galleries
8/83; Jack H. Robinson; Superior Galleries 1/89:383: Phillip W. Clover.
Lot 322
1799. Sheldon-189, High
Rarity-2. Del Bland graded Fine-15. Lovely, semi-glossy dark steel
surfaces from a protective coat of wax. The obverse is well centered with the
date sharp and the upper portion of LIBE weakly struck as is the lower left
reverse which is somewhat off-center and displays some minor handling marks,
the worst being a nick across the leaves below C of CENT. This is a classic
rarity and very desirable for a 1799 cent. The obverse is plated in the 1879
Frossard Monograph.
For the date, this coin presents an exceptional
opportunity. The obverse surfaces are very appealing, and the only identifying
mark is a small rim tick above the left serif of the Y in LIBERTY. The date and
Liberty are well struck, showing strong hair definition. On the reverse there
is a tiny rim mark over the D of UNITED and the lower portions of reverse
devices are weak, mostly due to the slightly off-center strike. One of the
highlights of this extensive collection, and one of the most sought-after dates
in the entire series. The mintage is unknown, having been lumped together with
coins dated 1798, but obviously only a few were produced, normally on inferior
planchets.
Estimated Value $10,000-UP.
Ex: John F. McCoy; W. Elliot
Woodward; W. Elliot Woodward 5/1864: 670 at $27; Henry L. Jewett; Edward Cogan
1/1876:2098 at $14; George W. Merritt; Ed Frossard 1/1879:131 at $30; Ed
Frossard; Ed Frossard 4/1880:391 at $24; H. Rogers; S. K. Harzfeld 1/1881:218
at $25.10; H. G. Sampson; unknown; Howard R. Newcomb; J. C. Morgenthau & Co.
#458 2/45:273 at $80.; James Kelly.
Lot 323
1799. Sheldon-189, High
Rarity-2. Sharpness of Fine-15 net VG-7. Nice on the obverse, with
a small rim mark near the ribbon, and one in the field above. Dark steel brown
in color, and well struck. On the reverse there is a severe scratch from the
rim between AT of STATES down to a pair of leaves on the right branch, and
there is a dent on the numerator. A rare coin in any grade, and to find one
with so much detail is difficult. Check it out.
Estimated Value $4,000-UP.
Lot 324
1799. Sheldon-189, High
Rarity-2. Del Bland graded Almost Good-3. Porous surfaces with a few
obverse scratches, all but one well hidden in the patina. The top of the date
is readily visible as is most of LIBERTY and about half of the reverse is
clear. Dark steel in color.
Estimated Value $650-850.
Lot 325
1800 over 1798.
Sheldon-190, High Rarity-2. Del Bland graded Fine-15. Sharpness of
Very Fine-25 but some light porosity through the end of the bust up into the
field, a couple scratches below IT in UNITED and an edge dent between F and A.
Medium dark steel brown.
Estimated Value $500-750.
Lot 326
1800. 80 over 79.
Sheldon-194, Low Rarity-3. Del Bland graded VG-7. Medium dark steel
brown with an edge dent opposite the end of the nose and a long, dull obverse
scratch.
Estimated Value $60-100.
Lot 327
1800. 80 over 79.
Sheldon-195, High Rarity-5. Del Bland graded Fine-12. Sharpness of
Very Fine 20 but cleaned, now an iridescent medium steel and light golden tan
color. Behind the ribbon is a light diagonal dent and on each side is a very
small edge dent. Late die state. A cent that could be improved.
The obverse
die state shows the well developed crack above RTY, but not the incuse letters
from die clashing or the rim break. On the reverse, the crack is sharp through
the CA and the fraction. Another coin with excellent surfaces for the grade,
and a splendid pedigree. The overdate is deservedly popular with collectors.
Estimated Value $1,250-1,750.
Ex. Dr. George P. French 3/21/29; B.
Max Mehl F.P.L., 1929: 242 at $10; Howard R. Newcomb; J. C. Morgenthau & Co.
#458 2/45:280 at $23.
Lot 328
1800. Sheldon-197,
Rarity-1. PCGS graded AU-50 and Del Bland graded VF-30. With low
areas on the obverse. Pleasing medium dark steel brown and defect free except
for a few tiny carbon spots, the largest of which is midway between the end of
the nose and the rim.
Commonly called the "Q variety" for the curious die
flaws in the two 0s, one of which makes the final 0 appear to be a "Q". It is
noteworthy that these die flaws are also found on the 1800 Bolender-14 silver
dollar, which exhibits die lumps in the same location on the date. The flaws
appear to be bubbles in the die steel, which caused the die to sink displaying
raised areas on the coins struck from these defective dies. Why were these die
flaws located on the last two digits of the date on both the 1800 S-197 large
cent and 1800 B-14 silver dollar? A curious coincidence, or something more?
Perhaps we'll never know.
Estimated Value $750-1,500.
Ex: Howard R.
Newcomb; J. C. Morgenthau & Co. #458 2/45:282 at $15.
Lot 329
1800. Sheldon-197,
Rarity-1. Del Bland graded VF-25. Sharpness of Extremely Fine-45 but
cleaned and nicely retoned to a light brown color. In the hair behind the
forehead is a small pit mark, between the ribbons on the reverse is a large
dark area and between E and R in AMERICA is a tiny edge nick.
Estimated
Value $500-900.
Ex: Jim McGuigan 10/98.