Feb. 16, 2001, The Benson Collection Part 1, Sale 8
Lot 351
1802. Sheldon-234, High
Rarity-3. Del Bland graded Fine-15. A pleasant appearing medium
steel brown cent with a couple darkish olive spots behind the lower curl, a
tiny edge dent over T in LIBERTY and a small scratch on the edge left of the
date.
Estimated Value $250-325.
Lot 352
1802. Sheldon-239,
Rarity-3. Del Bland graded VF-20. Darkish steel brown, lighter
highpoints, the surfaces quite clean for the grade.
Estimated Value
$500-900.
Lot 353
1802. Sheldon-240, High
Rarity-3. Del Bland graded VF-25. Sharpness of Very Fine-35 but
through Liberty is a very long, vertical pin scratch, other long, light
scratches exist on the upper reverse and near the dentils opposite the chin is
a cluster of minute nicks. Darkish chocolate brown. Tied for seventh finest
known with eight other examples.
Estimated Value $1,500-3,000.
Lot 354
1803. Stemless wreath,
double fraction bar. Sheldon-243, Rarity-2. Del Bland graded VF-20.
Sharper by five points but traces of light corrosion cover much of the
reverse and in the field behind the neck are a few minor nicks. Glossy dark
olive brown from a protective coat of wax. Late die state.
The obverse rim
break is fully developed over TY. One of most bizarre reverses used, the second
S of STATES is wildly recut low, touching the upper leaf of the wreath.
Furthermore, the fraction bar is also recut very low. Likely another example of
Robert Scot's incompetence at die engraving. It is interesting to note that
this reverse was also used in 1802 (Sheldon-241) to produce cents, many of
which were struck after this 1803 as some of the 1802s show heavy rim
breaks which are not present on the reverse of this earlier die state 1803
coin! Numismatics provides many areas of study, and some of the most eventful
times were during the first dozen or so years, as seen on this coin.
Estimated Value $500-750.
Ex: James G. Macallister circa 1945.
Lot 355
1803. Stemless wreath.
Sheldon-243, Rarity-2. Del Bland graded Sharpness of Fine-15 but tooled.
Sharpness of around Fine-15 but the hair and dentils have been crudely
tooled and the obverse has been burnished. Medium brown.
Estimated Value
$25-50.
Lot 356
1803. Sheldon-246, High
Rarity-3. Del Bland graded Fine-12. Sharpness of Very Fine-25 but
the obverse is rough with evidence of light burnishing in the field opposite
the face and a small pit mark near O in OF. Dark olive brown. A bit lighter in
color on the devices, darker in the fields.
Estimated Value $225-350.
Lot 357
1803. 1/100 over 1/000.
Sheldon-249, Rarity-2. Del Bland graded VG-10. Sharpness of Very
Fine 20 but the obverse is lightly rough and the reverse is uniformly and
finely corroded. Darkish gray steel in color.
As die steel ran short in
1803, this error reverse was resurrected from 1801, the fraction corrected and
the die rehardened, and the die pressed into service. Quite a few were struck,
much to the delight of todays collectors. Another coin with the desirable
Newcomb pedigree.
Estimated Value $75-150.
Ex: Howard R. Newcomb; J.
C. Morgenthau & Co. #458 2/45:408 at $11.50.
Lot 358
1803. Sheldon-251,
Rarity-2. Del Bland graded Fine-15. Sharpness of Very Fine-25 but
the surfaces are not perfectly smooth, in the hair are a couple hairline
scratches, opposite the face is a heavier one and on both sides are some very
small abrasions. Dark steel brown.
Estimated Value $175-250.
Lot 359
1803. Sheldon-253, High
Rarity-2. Del Bland graded VF-25. Medium steel brown with some
infinitesimal signs of handling, a little erosion behind the ribbon and a small
carbon spot opposite the chin.
Estimated Value $500-800.
Ex: Jay
Szerencsy: Early American Coppers 4/98:146.
Lot 360
1803. Small date, large
fraction. Sheldon-257, Rarity-2. PCGS graded EF-45 and Del Bland graded
VF-25. Medium chocolate brown surfaces with golden brown around the
devices. There are a few minor abrasions including a nick close above the bust
and a light edge dent right of D on the reverse. Early die state.
The nick
above Liberty's bust is very minor, and the surfaces are far better than
normally encountered on early copper. A slightly better variety that is popular
with date collectors and specialists alike.
Estimated Value $500-750.
Ex: Ira S. Reed, privately 12/15/44 at $5.
Lot 361
1803. Small date, large
fraction. Sheldon-258, Rarity-1. Del Bland graded VF-20. Sharpness
of Very Fine 35 but lightly burnished with a thin scratch up from the forehead,
traces of a pit mark behind the ribbon and a very small edge dent between T and
Y. Nicely retoned to a golden color with light steel overtones.
Estimated
Value $200-400.
Ex: Stack's 10/96:29 as "MS-63" at $2,530.
Lot 362
1803. Large date, large
fraction. Sheldon-260, Rarity-1. PCGS graded AU-53 and Del Bland graded
VF-35. Quite clean and attractive. Opposite the neck is a tiny edge dent,
below R in AMERICA is a tiny nick and between S and O is a trace of raised
corrosion. Medium dark steel brown with traces of a light brown.
A choice
cent that has extremely attractive surfaces and color. Boldly struck for the
variety, without peripheral or localized weakness. Although a common variety,
in high grade this coin is scarce and certainly rare in higher grades.
Estimated Value $1,000-1,500.
Ex: James G. Macallister 6/6/44 at
$10.
Lot 363
1803. Large date, large
fraction. Sheldon-265, Rarity-3. Del Bland graded Fine-12. Sharpness
of VF-25 but uniformly and finely porous with a scratch through the first S in
STATES and a small pit mark right of the base of F. Early die state, sharply
struck. Dark steel in color.
Estimated Value $375-650.
Lot 364
1803. Large date, large
fraction. Sheldon-265, Rarity-3. Del Bland graded Fine-12. Sharpness
of Very Fine-30 but uniformly and finely granular with numerous hairline
scratches across the face and neck. Cleaned and nicely retoned to a dark steel
brown color.
Estimated Value $150-250.
Lot 365
1804. Sheldon-266a,
Rarity-2. Del Bland graded VG-10. Although the exceptionally nice
glossy darkish steel brown surfaces seem to warrant a higher grade than Very
Good-10. Nearly flawless except for a very small nick nearly touching the
lowest curl and a light edge dent between E and R in AMERICA. Markedly superior
to the general run of cents at this grade level and certain to give much
satisfaction to its new owner. Perfect dies.
While not the highest grade
seen of this date, the surfaces are truly exceptional. A collector would be
hard pressed to find one more desirable than the coin offered here. We
anticipate a strong price when this lovely 1804 crosses the block.
Estimated Value $1,100-1,500.
Ex: James G. Macallister 6/19/45 at
$85.
Lot 366
1805. Blunt 1. Sheldon-267,
Rarity-1. PCGS graded AU-53 and Del Bland graded EF-40. Sharpness of
About Uncirculated-50, but through the base of L in LIBERTY is a scratch, left
of that letter is a trace of raised corrosion and on both sides minuscule
handling marks are visible under a glass. Darkish steel brown on the obverse
and golden brown faded from mint color on the reverse.
A beautiful cent that
will make a memorable addition to an advanced variety or date collection.
Estimated Value $800-1,200.
Ex: James G. Macallister 6/19/45 as
"Unc." at $50.
Lot 367
1805. Sheldon-268,
Rarity-3. Del Bland graded VF-20. Sharpness of Very Fine-30 but most
of the surfaces are lightly porous and across the face is a hairline scratch.
Dark olive steel in color.
Estimated Value $500-1,000.
Ex: John A.
Schrender 4/70; Del Bland; Denis W. Loring; C. Douglas Smith; Dr. Robert J.
Shalowitz; C. Douglas Smith; Ellen Enzler; Numismatic and Antiquarian Service
Corporation of America 12/78:2648; Ellen Enzler; James Holtz; Early American
Coppers 34/1999:317.
Lot 368
"1806" Restrike Pattern.
Judd-38a. Unique! Fair-2. Struck in copper on what appears to be a
classic or middle date host coin, with the NE of ONE and part of the circular
wreath plainly visible on the obverse, where Liberty's face should be on the
secondary (quarter) strike. On the reverse we note the L of LIBERTY is barely
visible just under the E of UNITED. The location of the L, being approximately
5 mm from the edge, implies that the host coin was a classic head variety
(1808-14) cent. A quarter obverse, cent reverse mule. Struck in copper, with a
plain edge.
This coin is extremely unusual. The obverse is struck from the
Browning-5 variety quarter of 1806, and the reverse is a large fraction variety
large cent, similar to the reverse of S-276 or S-260. After exhaustive
searching, the large cent die is unique to this coin and was not used to
produce any other known large cents. Diagnostic notes are as follows: the
fraction bar ends directly above the left vertical side of 1. The outer leaf
tip in the wreath is below the left side of the right leg of the M. The base of
the E in AMERICA is slightly above the M and close, the base of RI either touch
or are extremely close. There is a die line through the last A of AMERICA. The
numerator in the fraction is a touch right of center, on other large fraction
dies, the 1 is left of center. The shape of the ribbon and other leaf ends
visible confirm that this die was not used to produce other known large cents.
Examination and discussion is heartily recommended!
As to the coin itself,
both sides show extensive pin scratches and scrapes, some possibly in an effort
to efface the host coin. Furthermore, the surfaces are a bit rough from
corrosion. Nevertheless, there is enough there for positive attribution. Dark
steel brown in color, and evenly toned throughout.
Probably struck outside
the mint using discarded dies. Most other period restrikes using mint dies are
attributed to Joseph J. Mickley, and he is the likely source for this coin. A
most important piece of American numismatic history, this coin has long been
known, and is seldom available for study. No hint of another example exists,
and we are confident that it is and will remain unique. The dies were cataloged
for the Mickley auction, but were seized by the Mint Superintendent, Oliver
Bosbyshell, who then destroyed them. It is thought that the dies were sold as
scrap metal after the fire in 1816, and from there the dies made their way to
Mickley, who struck such animals as the 1804 large cents and 1811 half cents,
possibly this coin too.
Estimated Value $3,500-UP.
Reported in Judd
as his number 38a, also in Scott/Taxay Comprehensive Catalog, and reportedly
from Empire Coin Co. No. 3, lot 83.
Lot 369
1806. Sheldon-270,
Rarity-1. PCGS graded AU-50 and Del Bland graded VF-30. Five points
sharper but below 80 in the date is an edge dent, over the left side of M in
AMERICA is a smaller one and on the obverse are a few tiny nicks. Glossy dark
chocolate brown surfaces.
A lovely example of this single variety year. Nice
color and surfaces, which combine to make this piece more appealing than
average. Another choice coin for the specialist.
Estimated Value
$800-1,200.
Ex: Ira S. Reed, privately 9/27/44 at $27.50.
Lot 370
1807. Large 7 over 6.
Sheldon-273, Rarity-1. Del Bland graded VF-30. Sharpness of
Extremely Fine 45 but uniformly and microscopically porous with a thin scratch
on the bust, two hairline scratches opposite the face and a tiny nick on the
front line of the neck. Dark olive, the surfaces a trifle glossy. Early die
state and sharply struck.
The reverse die was apparently lapped after this
one was struck, reducing the width of the die crack below the C of AMERICA. As
more coins were struck, the reverse die developed a cud over STA on the rim.
Weakly struck on the O of OF. The surface problems on this coin are minor, the
porosity is even and distributed on both sides while the color is dark olive.
Splendid hair detail on Liberty and excellent for the grade assigned.
Estimated Value $400-650.
Ex: James G. Macallister 5/28/45 as "Unc."
at $45.
Lot 371
1807. Large fraction.
Sheldon-275, Low Rarity-3. Del Bland graded VF-35. Sharpness of
EF-45 but lightly polished, the surfaces now a lovely, glossy light steel tan
color, and displaying only minor nicks, one on the neck, another on the face
and three more in the obverse fields. Tied with four others for the seventh
finest known.
Estimated Value $1,250-2,500.
Ex: George F. Seavy,
1887:362; Lorin G. Parmelee; unknown; Charles J. DuPont, Stack's 9/54:494;
Benjamin Stack (Imperial Coin Co.); Mrs. R. Henry Norweb: Bowers and Merena
11/88:2840: C. Douglas Smith 4/29/93; Eric Streiner.
Lot 372
1807. Large fraction.
Sheldon-276, Rarity-1. Del Bland graded VF-35. Sharpness of
Extremely Fine 45 but on the obverse is some very faint roughness and a few
tiny edge nicks. On Liberty's face and front part of her upper hair are a few
scratches. Mottled dark olive and darker brown on the obverse, dark olive on
the reverse. Early die state. Reverse is rotated 25 degrees to the
left.
This coin is boldly struck along the lower obverse rim, being a hair
off-center in that direction. We note both the obverse and reverse fields show
clash marks, and roughness on both sides is not too annoying. Fully struck on
Liberty's curls and on most of the reverse leaves, although the lower left
leaves on the wreath show diagnostic weakness for the die pairing. A lovely
cent that will enhance an advanced collection.
Estimated Value $400-650.
Ex: James G. Macallister 6/19/45 as "Ex. F." at $25.