Feb. 16, 2001, The Benson Collection Part 1, Sale 8
Lot 373
1808. Twelve star variety.
Sheldon-277, Rarity-2. Del Bland graded Fine-15. This is the twelve
star variety, but on this example the missing star is rather sharp. Sharpness
of Very Fine-35 but burnished to remove some pitting on the obverse and rough
areas on the reverse, all of which still show. Retoned to an orange brown color
mottled with darkish olive on the obverse.
Estimated Value $125-250.
Lot 374
1808. Sheldon-279,
Rarity-1. Del Bland graded Sharpness of VF-30 but tooled. All of the
hair curls and stars have been tooled, most of the surfaces have been burnished
and on the reverse are some scratches. Cleaned and retoned to a light golden
brown with light steel blue overtones on the obverse.
Here is a very curious
coin, at first glance all appears in order, but when a glass is applied
extensive work is revealed. The stars have all been recut to show radial lines
at their centers, and most of Liberty's curls have been carefully reengraved to
show individual hairs on the upper wear points. An interesting specimen that
shows deceptive practices have been a part of numismatics for a very long time,
even when values were comparatively low it was obviously worthwhile to take the
time to "improve" the appearance of coin in hopes of selling it at a higher
value (or grade).
Estimated Value $100-300.
Ex: Ira S. Reed,
privately circa 1945 as "Unc." at $40.
Lot 375
1809. Sheldon-280,
Rarity-2. Del Bland graded VG-7. Sharpness of Very Fine 20 but the
obverse has been burnished to remove corrosion and porosity some of which still
shows, and the reverse is lightly rough. Medium dark steel brown.
Copper
planchets during the run of Classic Head large cents leave a lot to be desired.
Survivors are often found corroded or very dark with abundant porosity.
Locating a nice specimen often takes patience and a premium price. This one is
more typical, burnished to reduce the porosity, and retoned to a pleasant
medium brown.
Estimated Value $100-150.
Ex: Ira S. Reed 12/6/44 as
"E.F." at $22.50.
Lot 376
1809. Sheldon-280,
Rarity-2. Del Bland graded VG-7. Slightly sharper but extensively
nicked up with tiny handling marks. Darkish steel brown.
Estimated Value
$75-100.
Lot 377
1809. Sheldon-280,
Rarity-2. Del Bland graded Almost Good-3. Sharpness of Fine-15 but
corroded. Dark steel brown.
Estimated Value $25-40.
Lot 378
1810. 10 over 09.
Sheldon-281, Rarity-1. PCGS graded AU-55 and Del Bland graded VF-35.
Weakly struck as often seen. Sharper by five points but at stars five and
six is a pin scratch, near the denticles above the head is a short scratch and
on the reverse are several thin scratches, mostly around ONE CENT and the line
below. Golden brown with medium dark steel toning and a dark olive line through
the neck.
A lovely cent that boasts excellent color and surfaces, save for
the microscopic pin scratches noted before. Most of this variety are found with
a mushy strike, perhaps the dies were lapped or the coiner was having an off
day swinging the heavy steel arm of the screw press. We note that Mr.
Macallister had $60 on the envelope, but reduced the price to $50 as Dr. Benson
purchased several coins in a group along with this piece.
Estimated Value
$1,500-2,500.
Ex. James G. Macallister 5/28/45 as "Unc. Superb" at $50.
Lot 379
1810. 10 over 9.
Sheldon-281, Rarity-1. Del Bland graded Fine-15. Relatively free of
handling marks although there are a couple small nicks in the left obverse
field. Dark olive steel in color and not well struck up.
Estimated Value
$450-750.
Lot 380
1810. Sheldon-284, Low
Rarity-3. PCGS graded AU-58 and Del Bland graded EF-40. Lovely
medium chocolate brown and gold brown surfaces, the latter faded from mint red.
Nearly flawless but at star three are a couple of minute nicks and on the upper
left obverse rim are three tiny dents. Well struck and an excellent cent for
the date or type collector.
Struck a bit off-center towards the lower right
on the obverse as usually seen. A coin for the connoisseur who demands
outstanding color, surfaces and quality.
Estimated Value $2,500-UP.
Ex: Ira S. Reed, privately 12/4/45 as "Unc." at $25.
Lot 381
1811. Last 1 over 0.
Sheldon-286, Rarity-3. Del Bland graded Fine-15. Sharpness of Very
Fine-30 but on the face, neck, bust and in the left obverse field are numerous
ancient scratches which have blended so well into the patina that they are not
readily visible to the naked eye. Also, the reverse is uniformly and lightly
rough. Dark steel brown.
As with so many others of the Classic Head design,
this one has porous surfaces and was probably struck on a not-so-perfect
planchet. Inspection recommended.
Estimated Value $400-750.
Purchased circa 1945 as "Unc." for $30.
Lot 382
1811. Sheldon-287,
Rarity-2. PCGS graded AU-50 and Del Bland graded F-15. Sharpness of
Very Fine-25 but the surfaces are not perfectly smooth, through the ribbon
behind the head and into the field is a heavy scratch and around all devices on
the reverse traces of raised corrosion is visible. Dark olive. Another cent
that looks better than the description makes it sound.
The scratch behind
Liberty's head is short and virtually hidden by the curls and ribbon which it
parallels. We note that the obverse has a decent appearance although slightly
dark in color, while the reverse displays tiny raised lumps of corrosion near
the legends and devices while the surrounding fields are generally smooth and
trouble free.
We have elected to present as much information as possible to
collectors in order to assist them in valuing these coins. While grading is an
art, over the years one fact keeps recurring; people tend to value a particular
coin about the same, regardless of what grade they attach to a given
coin. Therefore, learn all you can about grading and valuing coins, and you
won't be surprised in the future.
Estimated Value $750-1,500.
Ex:
Ira S. Reed, privately 12/6/44 as "E.F." at $37.50.
Lot 383
1811. Sheldon-287,
Rarity-2. Del Bland graded VF-30. Sharper by five points but
touching the forelock is a small spot of raised dark red corrosion and left of
O in ONE is a larger spot. Dark chocolate brown, the obverse off center to the
right. This is a nice cent.
Estimated Value $900-1,300.
Lot 384
1812. Large date.
Sheldon-288, Rarity-2. PCGS graded AU-58 and Del Bland graded EF-45.
Beautiful lustrous medium chocolate brown surfaces with tinges of faded
mint red and dark olive spots between S and T and between A and T. Almost
defect free but from the base of the first S in STATES to the tip of the leaf
below is a scratch. An exceptional cent.
A particularly pleasing coin to
view and one that will certainly attract considerable bidding. The PCGS insert
notes that this is a "Small Date", however, it is a Large Date variety. Perhaps
the new owner will resubmit the coin to have the insert corrected.
Estimated Value $2,000-3,000.
Ex: James G. Macallister 5/28/45 as
"Unc." at $25.
Lot 385
1812. Large date.
Sheldon-288, Rarity-2. Del Bland graded VF-35. Sharpness of EF-45
but in the left obverse field are four tiny nicks, on the nostril and mouth is
a faint scratch, between stars ten and eleven is a trace of verdigris, more is
visible above O in ONE and on the rim over the right side of E in AMERICA is a
small nick. Darkish steel brown. Much nicer than it sounds.
Make sure to
view this cent, it is very appealing and worth a strong bid.
Estimated
Value $900-1,300.
Ex: Bowers and Merena Galleries F.P.L. 1987-1988;
Kingswood Collectors Exchange M.B.S. #1 3/88:7-52; Bowers and Merena Galleries;
Kingswood Collectors Exchange M.B.S. #2 6/88:7524; Austin Ryer; Superior
Galleries 1/90:520; Robert E. Matthews (Matthews Money Tree Co.); Early
American Coppers 4/99:336.
Lot 386
1812. Large date.
Sheldon-288, Rarity-2. Del Bland graded Sharpness of VF-30 but tooled in
the hair. Sharpness of About Very Fine-30 but all of the hair and stars
have been crudely tooled, most of the surfaces have been lightly burnished, all
this by the same individual who did the work on the S-279 above. On the upper
obverse edge are two pit marks. Cleaned and retoned to a darkish gray steel
color with red around the devices.
An interesting coin that looks very nice
at first glance, but with a glass the tooling becomes evident. A coin to
discuss with other copper collectors to show how "improving" coins has evolved
over the years.
Estimated Value $100-300.
Ex: James G. Macallister
6/6/44 as "Unc." at $25.
Lot 387
1812. Large date.
Sheldon-289, Rarity-1. Del Bland graded Fine-15. Not a sharp example
but quite free from handling marks. Darkish steel brown.
Estimated Value
$350-700.
Lot 388
1812. Small date.
Sheldon-291, High Rarity-2. Del Bland graded VF-25. Sharpness of
VF-35 but an edge dent over star twelve, a barely noticeable scrape in the
field at the ribbon behind the head and a few minor abrasions, mostly on the
reverse. Medium dark steel brown, lighter high points. Both sides off center as
usually seen.
Estimated Value $700-1,000.
Ex: Dr. Gerald I. Maas;
Superior Galleries 2/98:1071.
Lot 389
1812. Small date.
Sheldon-291, High Rarity-2. Del Bland graded VF-25. Sharpness of
AU-55 but uniformly porous with a nick at star eight and some tiny abrasions on
the lower obverse and lower reverse. Dark olive. Both sides off center.
Estimated Value $200-375.
Lot 390
1813. Distant star variety.
Sheldon-292, Low Rarity-2. Del Bland graded VF-35. With a planchet
defect in the center of the reverse. Sharper by ten points but hidden around
the edge are some very small dents, right of star seven is a nick and traces of
burnishing can be found on both sides. Sharply struck, the obverse off center
at K7. Medium dark steel brown with mottled around ONE CENT.
Estimated
Value $550-800.
Lot 391
1813. Sheldon-292, Low
Rarity-2. Del Bland graded VF-20. Weakly struck. Opposite the nose
is a shallow depression and over C in CENT is a small nick. Double profile on
the lower chin. Medium dark steel tan. A nice coin for the grade.
Estimated
Value $450-750.
Ex: Bowers and Merena Galleries 8/83:296; William W.
Morison; Butterfield, Johnson, Gillio: 1/95:2097; Walter Husak; Superior Stamp
& Coin 6/98:139.
Lot 392
1813. Close star variety.
Sheldon-293, Rarity-2. PCGS graded AU-55 and Del Bland graded VF-30.
Behind the head is a rather small carbon spot, tiny ones exist at the left
base of the second 1 in the date and at the rim on the lower left reverse. Free
from distracting nicks and scratches. Medium dark chocolate brown.
Some
brown luster resides in the fields and this is a very appealing cent overall.
Slightly scarcer than some of the other dates of the Classic Head series, and
another difficult coin to find on a decent planchet.
Estimated Value
$1,500-2,500.
Ex: Ira S. Reed, privately 6/21/45 at $25.
Lot 393
1813. Sheldon-293,
Rarity-2. Del Bland graded VF-25. With blunt striking on the upper
obverse and lower reverse. Medium dark steel tan with a dent on the back of the
head and two dents on the lower left reverse edge.
Estimated Value
$500-800.
Ex: Superior Galleries 2/91:769.
Lot 394
1814. Crosslet 4.
Sheldon-294, Rarity-1. Del Bland graded EF-45. Sharply struck and
five points sharper but right of star seven is a reddish spot, over stars two
and three is a larger one and over O in OF is a small nick. Dark chocolate
brown. An excellent early copper cent.
A satisfying coin to view and no
doubt own. Expect to pay a worthwhile premium.
Estimated Value
$1,800-2,750.
Ex: Bowers and Merena 3/98: 233.
Lot 395
1814. Plain 4. Sheldon-295,
Rarity-1. Del Bland graded Fine-15. Sharpness of Very Fine 35 but on
both sides are clusters of tiny spots of raised corrosion and at the rim at K
12 on the obverse is a small planchet defect. In addition, this cent has been
lightly burnished, cleaned and retoned to a light reddish and medium dark steel
brown.
A later die state with the lumps along Liberty's chin, throat and
neck, and a die crack through the 8 in the date to the eleventh star. Not a bad
looking cent, but as always, inspection recommended.
Estimated Value
$400-800.
Ex: Ira S. Reed, privately 12/15/44 at $15.