Feb. 16, 2001, The Benson Collection Part 1, Sale 8
Lot 330
1800, Sheldon-203, Low
Rarity-3. Del Bland graded VF-25. Sharpness of Very Fine-35 but dark
olive with faint porosity on most of the obverse and a nick below the right
side of O in ONE.
Estimated Value $750-1,250.
Ex: Robert Whitmore
8/77; Chuck Frujanic; John Sypoe 4/91: James H. Goudge 6/91; Don Valenziano,
Jr; Early American Coppers 4/92:120: Stuart "Mac" MacDonald: Heritage
Numismatic Auctions 9/97:5145.
Lot 331
1800. Sheldon-205, Low
Rarity-4. Del Bland graded Fine-15. With a very small planchet
defect in the upper left obverse field. Sharpness of Very Fine-25 but cleaned
to a light golden tan color. Behind the head is a small nick and through the
forelock is a long, hairline scratch.
Estimated Value $300-750.
Ex:
Superior Stamp & Coin 2/98:974 as "S-206".
Lot 332
1800. Sheldon-207, High
Rarity-3. Del Bland graded Fine-12. Slightly sharper but left of the
first S in STATES is an edge dent, left of the first A in AMERICA is a tiny
edge nick, on the obverse are a couple of minor abrasions and behind the ribbon
is a small dark spot. Medium light steel tan.
Estimated Value $350-550.
Ex: Stephen Fischer 10/98.
Lot 333
1800. Sheldon-208,
Rarity-3. Del Bland graded VF-20. Sharpness of Very Fine 35 but some
faint porosity is evenly dispersed on both sides, a wide scratch appears across
the face and another one is in the lower right obverse field. Dark olive with
some lighter high points. Late die state.
Rim breaks noted at TY and below,
and a highly appealing cent that boasts a wonderful family tree in its
pedigree.
Estimated Value $750-UP.
Ex: John R. Cogswell; Thomas L.
Elder 12/14:385: Dr. George P. French 3/21/29: B. Max Mehl F.P.L. 1929:251:
Henry A. Sternberg 9/30: T. James Clarke, 1944, B. Max Mehl; B. Max Mehl M.B.S.
#112 4/49:2336: Willard C. Blaisdell 8/77; Denis W. Loring 9/77: William R. T.
Smith: Early American Coppers 1/79: 109; G. Lee Kuntz; Superior Galleries
10/91:231: Robert E. Matthews (Matthews Money Tree Co.) 4/24/94: Stuart "Mac"
MacDonald; Heritage Numismatic Auctions 9/97:5146.
Lot 334
1800. Sheldon-209,
Rarity-3. Del Bland graded VF-20. Five points sharper but the
surfaces are not perfectly smooth and a small nick can be seen over both C and
N in CENT. Dark olive, lighter high points. The appearance of this cent is
quite nice.
Estimated Value $500-850.
Ex: Thomas D. Reynolds 3/88:
Joe Dooley; M + G Auctions 1/97:239; Stuart "Mac" MacDonald; Heritage
Numismatic Auctions 9/97:5147.
Lot 335
1800. Sheldon-211, Low
Rarity-3. Del Bland graded Fine-15. Sharpness of Very Fine 20 but
with pitting at the tops of ST in STATES and at the fraction. Medium dark steel
brown.
Estimated Value $400-650.
Lot 336
1800. Sheldon-211, Low
Rarity-3. Del Bland graded Fine-12. Sharpness of VF-20 but uniformly
and finely porous. Early die state, sharply struck and well centered. Dark
olive steel brown.
Estimated Value $300-600.
Lot 337
1800. Sheldon-212,
Rarity-3. Del Bland graded VG-10. Slightly sharper but a horizontal
scratch across the right obverse field. Darkish steel brown.
Estimated
Value $150-250.
Lot 338
1801. Pointed 1.
Sheldon-214, High Rarity-3. Del Bland graded VF-25. Sharpness of
EF-45 but finely porous on the obverse, less so on the reverse. In the field
behind the neck is a well hidden scratch, right of the date is a tiny edge nick
and across the neck and hair is a vertical scratch visible only under a glass.
Dark olive steel in color.
Estimated Value $500-800.
Ex: Grant
O.Reed: Superior Stamp & Coin 9/98:1215.
Lot 339
1801. Sheldon-216,
Rarity-1. Del Bland graded VF-20. With blunt striking as almost
always seen on this variety. Sharpness of Extremely Fine-40 but some fine
corrosion throughout the left obverse field and on a portion of the left
reverse. Medium chocolate brown with a considerable amount of faded mint red,
mostly on the reverse.
The blunt striking characteristic on this variety is
noted on Liberty's bust and on the reverse on OF. Close examination of the left
obverse field locates some very shallow scrape marks where the fine corrosion
was delicately removed. On the reverse, the strike is strong on most of the
wreath, with sharp denticles on all but the upper right reverse, which is
slightly off-center. An impressive and desirable cent, despite its minor
problems.
Estimated Value $400-800.
Ex: James G. Macallister 5/28/45
as "Ex Fine" at $20.
Lot 340
1801. 1/100, one stem &
"IINITED" errors. Sheldon-219, Low Rarity-2. Del Bland graded VG-8.
In the hair, in the left obverse field and over ATE are some very old
scratches. The three errors on the reverse are sharp. Medium steel brown.
Estimated Value $325-450.
Lot 341
1801. Fraction 1/000.
Sheldon-220, Low Rarity-3. The Newcomb Plate Coin. Del Bland graded
Fine-15. Sharpness of Extremely Fine-40 but the obverse is uniformly porous
as is much of the reverse. Intermediate die state. Dark olive. The obverse and
reverse are plated in Newcomb's book on the Cents of 1801-1802-1803.
An
important coin, purchased in 1945 and off the market since that time. On the
reverse, the die crack is present which extends from the AT of STATES through
the upper right pair of leaves to the rim between OF AMERICA. The small rim
break is present on the obverse over the Y. Decent enough for the grade, with
surfaces that are all too typical of early copper. Another example of Robert
Scot's mathematical acumen, seen on only a few dies used during this period.
Estimated Value $200-400.
Ex: Howard R. Newcomb; J. C. Morgenthau &
Co. #458 2/45:320 at $40; J. C. Macallister & Co. #461 5/45:320 at $20.
Lot 342
1801. 1/100 over 1/000.
Sheldon-221, Low Rarity-2. Del Bland graded VF-25. Sharpness of Very
Fine-30 but a long line of minute nicks from below the corner of the eye into
the top of the drapery on the shoulder. In addition, behind the ribbon is a
scratch, another one across the double leaf below ED and a small nick touches
the right base of D. Earlier die state with a rim break just starting to
develop right of F in OF. Glossy dark olive from a protective coat of
wax.
The line of minute nicks is pretty minor, but visible to the unaided
eye. The fields are generally clean for the grade, and the coin has a pleasant
appearance. On the reverse, the rim break has just started to form and can be
seen on the tops of four denticles right of the F in OF. Bluntly struck on the
lower left side of the wreath. An excellent cent for the grade assigned and
worthy of a specialists collection.
Finding a high grade example of the
"corrected fraction" is often a challenge. The original die, probably engraved
by Robert Scot, had the fraction which read 1/000. After some kind words from
the mint director or assistant coiner Eckfeldt, the visually challenged--or
attention challenged--Robert Scot rummaged through his engraving tools and
found the proper "1" for the fraction, and re-engraved the fraction to the
correct 1/100, but the original error "0" is still quite plain. While not
"rare", this early mint blunder has always remained highly coveted by
collectors and is seldom available in high grade and with the Newcomb pedigree.
Estimated Value $650-1,000.
Ex: The United States Coin Co., 6/16:528
at $28; Howard R. Newcomb; J. C. Morgenthau & Co., #458 2/45:345 at $24.
Lot 343
1801. Blunt 1. Sheldon-222,
High Rarity-1. Del Bland graded Fine-12. A little sharper and clean
except for a small nick on the nose and a long scratch above the fraction.
Medium dark steel brown, light tan high points.
Estimated Value $175-250.
Lot 344
1802. Sheldon-225,
Rarity-2. VF-20. Deep chocolate brown in color and well struck. This
one has the obverse die cud below the date, as well as a rim bump there and
another nearby. There are some scratches on the left reverse, and a rim knock
below the left ribbon end.
Estimated Value $150-225.
Lot 345
1802. Sheldon-227, High
Rarity-2. Del Bland graded Fine-15. Five points sharper but a plain
pit mark on the neck, a tiny nick on the jaw and one more above the ribbon.
Medium dark steel brown.
Estimated Value $200-300.
Lot 346
1802. Fraction 1/000.
Sheldon-228, Rarity-2. Del Bland graded Fine-15. Sharper by five
points but touching the lower forehead is a small pit mark, above the bust is a
pin scratch and in the hair are half a dozen tiny nicks. Medium dark steel
brown.
Popular for the error fraction 1/000, which turns the mathematician
in us on our ears! Breen attributes this error (actually on several dies, some
of which were corrected to read 1/000 over 1/100) to Mint Engraver Robert Scot
and his failing eyesight. This coin would make a nice addition to a variety
set, with the error fraction clear and the moderate handling marks hidden in
Liberty's hair for the most part. Well balanced in strike, surfaces and color.
An impressive coin in every way.
Estimated Value $350-600.
Ex:
Howard R. Newcomb; J. C. Morgenthau & Co. #458 2/45:345 at $24.
Lot 347
1802. Stemless wreath.
Sheldon-231, Rarity-1. Del Bland graded Fine-15. With some blunt
striking on top of the head. Sharpness of Very Fine-25 but through L-BER and
around some reverse devices traces of raised corrosion can be found. Opposite
the forehead are two nicks and on the reverse are two very small edge
dents.
Close examination with a glass will note some very faint surface
scratches, both in the fields and on the devices of the obverse. The obverse
die displays the crack before Liberty's face, and the reverse has strong clash
marks as well as the crack through the lower fraction. A decent appearing coin
for the moderate grade.
Estimated Value $250-500.
Ex. Ira S. Reed,
privately 12/6/44 at $10.
Lot 348
1802. Sheldon-232,
Rarity-1. The Newcomb Plate coin. Del Bland graded EF-45. With a
small low spot on the front of the neck and a large, shallow low area on the
bust and drapery. Sharpness of About Uncirculated-55, but some light corrosion
from the back of the head through the ribbon to the denticles and from the top
of the head through ERT to the denticles. In addition, there are a couple of
new hairline scratches in front of the nose. Light golden steel tan. The
obverse is plated in Newcomb's book The Cents of 1801-1802-1803.
This
is a really beautiful cent, and despite its minor problems we expect it to
attract considerable attention for its color, overall quality and rich
pedigree. This one has been off the market for nearly 56 years! Don't wait for
the next appearance of this coin to bid, that may be far into the future.
Estimated Value $1,500-2,500.
Ex: Howard R. Newcomb; J. C.
Morgenthau & Co. #458 2/45:358 at $22.50.
Lot 349
1802. Sheldon-232,
Rarity-1. Del Bland graded EF-40. With blunt striking on both sides
obliterating most of UNITED. Sharpness of AU-50 but over the left side of B is
a tiny edge dent, another exists between T and Y, on the lower left reverse is
a long, faint scratch and on the obverse are several microscopic handling
marks. Medium chocolate brown with a dark reddish area right of the fraction.
Estimated Value $450-800.
Ex. C. Douglas Smith 4/29/93: Eric
Streiner.
Lot 350
1802. Sheldon-232,
Rarity-1. Del Bland graded Fine-15. Sharpness of EF-45 but faint
scratches cover the face and above OF the edge has been severely filed. Medium
steel brown.
Estimated Value $175-250.