Feb. 16, 2001, The Benson Collection Part 1, Sale 8
Lot 501
1836. Newcomb-6, Rarity-2.
Del Bland graded AU-50. Medium chocolate brown with a darker brown
streak bisecting the reverse and only faint suggestions of handling, plus a
darkish spot over 3 in the date. Rim break left of star eight. A very desirable
cent.
Estimated Value $200-250.
Lot 502
1836. Newcomb-7, Rarity-4.
Del Bland graded AU-50. Just about mint state in sharpness but
cleaned and retoned to a light olive steel color with some subtle light reddish
tints, mostly on the reverse. There is a cluster of microscopic planchet
defects opposite the chin. The surfaces are quite free from handling marks.
This is one of the better examples of the variety.
Estimated Value
$500-1,000.
Ex: Stack's privately 1971; Robinson S. Brown, Jr; Superior
Galleries 9/86: 818; Robinson, Victor-McCawley (RVM); March Wells; Superior
Stamp & Coin 2/2000:2013.
Lot 503
1837. Plain cords, medium
letters. Newcomb-1, Rarity-3. Del Bland graded AU-50. With tiny
planchet defects above stars three and four. Five points sharper but between
stars five and six are some small nicks and elsewhere on both sides are a few
handling marks. Medium light brown with a small dark spot near star ten and
tints of light steel blue overtones on the reverse.
Estimated Value
$225-350.
Lot 504
1837. Plain cords, medium
letters. Newcomb-3, Rarity-1. Del Bland graded MS-60. Lustrous
medium chocolate brown with several very small spots of darker toning on the
obverse and traces of mint red around many reverse devices along with some
darker mottling throughout. Opposite the forehead is a tiny nick and some
minuscule abrasions exist on the obverse. Sharply struck and well centered.
Estimated Value $350-450.
Lot 505
1837. Plain cords, medium
letters. Newcomb-3, Rarity-1. PCGS graded AU-58 and Del Bland graded
AU-50. Sharper by five points but scattered around the obverse are a few
short scratches not readily visible to the unaided eye. Lightly mottled brown
on the obverse, dark steel brown on the reverse.
We note one hidden spot
inside the D of UNITED. Sharply struck, with the usual encircling die crack in
the reverse legends.
Estimated Value $100-150.
Ex: Ira S. Reed
1/5/45 as "Unc." at $5.
Lot 506
1837. Plain cords, medium
letters. Newcomb-6, Rarity-2. Del Bland graded EF-40. Sharpness of
AU-55 but the obverse has been cleaned to remove carbon in front of the face
which still plainly shows. Light steel tan and red, the reverse light tan with
light steel overtones.
Estimated Value $150-250.
Lot 507
1837. Plain cords, medium
letters. Newcomb-7, Rarity-1. Del Bland graded MS-60. Beautiful,
frosty medium light chocolate brown surfaces with a slightly darker area on
much of the reverse. Nearly pristine though a small carbon spot rests at the
dentils above the space between T and E in STATES. An exceptionally choice
cent.
Estimated Value $350-450.
Lot 508
1837. Head of 1838.
Newcomb-10, Rarity-1. PCGS graded MS-64 Brown and Del Bland MS-60.
Lovely medium chocolate brown surfaces with evidence of a lighter brown
undertone. Flawless except for a minute nick on the jaw. An exceptional cent.
Estimated Value $500-600.
Lot 509
1837. Head of 1838.
Newcomb-10, Rarity-1. Del Bland graded MS-60. Medium chocolate brown
with a touch of olive through the obverse and above CE of CENT. Without any
defects worthy of mention.
Estimated Value $350-450.
Lot 510
1837. Head of 1838,
accessory E in wreath. Newcomb-12, Rarity-3. Del Bland graded AU-55.
With weak striking on the borders and peripheral areas, though the E in the
wreath is very sharp. Medium light steel brown and completely free from
abrasions.
The accessory E is located below the E of AMERICA in the wreath,
the top left and lower serif show plainly. Popular with collectors, and still
scarce.
Estimated Value $275-500.
Lot 511
1837. Plain cords, medium
letters. Newcomb-13, High Rarity-2. Del Bland graded MS-60. Light
golden brown on the obverse, medium steel brown and light brown on the reverse,
with both sides lustrous and well struck. Below star eight is a carbon spot and
across the face is a light scratch.
Estimated Value $350-500.
Ex:
Joseph H. Rose; Harmer Rooke Numismatists, Ltd. 3/90;354; Martin Paul (The
Rarities Group); Anthony Terranova; Superior Galleries 2/91:905; Anthony
Terranova.
Lot 512
1837. Plain cords, medium
letters. Newcomb-13, High Rarity-2. NGC graded AU-58 Brown. With a
small planchet defect on top of the head. Medium brown with a very small carbon
spot in the lower left obverse field and a trace of carbon along the dentils
over stars twelve and thirteen and beyond.
Estimated Value $300-600.
Lot 513
1837. Plain cords, medium
letters. Newcomb-13, High Rarity-2. Del Bland graded AU-55. With
traces of a planchet lamination across the upper left obverse. Medium chocolate
brown with a carbon spot at the top of the first hair bun and a tiny dent
hidden in the hair above the left side of the coin.
Estimated Value
$150-225.
Lot 514
1838. Newcomb-1, Rarity-1.
Del Bland graded EF-45. Mint State sharpness but cleaned, now a
reddish steel color with a darker olive spot touching the forehead. Between
stars four and five is a light edge dent.
Minor hairlines visible with a
glass, and now both red and brown in color.
Estimated Value $75-125.
Ex: James G. Macallister, circa 1944 as "Unc." at $6.
Lot 515
1838. Newcomb-3, Rarity-1.
Del Bland graded MS-61. Iridescent light steel tan with faint traces
of mint red around many devices, the surfaces frosty and satin-like. Almost
flawless, however over stars three and four, near star twelve and at the left
top of N in ONE are hairline scratches. Late die state, the dies worn with the
dentilation on the obverse weak and completely gone on the reverse. Over star
one is a narrow rim break.
Estimated Value $400-650.
Ex: Superior
Galleries 2/91:908; unknown; Superior Galleries 10/91:1029; Tom Morley;
Superior Galleries 5/92:359.
Lot 516
1838. Newcomb-4, Rarity-1.
Del Bland graded AU-55. Medium steel brown, clean and attractive
despite a minute nick opposite the forehead and some hairline scratches around
E in ONE.
Estimated Value $225-400.
Lot 517
1838. Newcomb-6, Rarity-1.
Del Bland graded AU-55. Mint state sharpness but on the rim right of
star three is a pit mark. Medium steel tan with numerous light reddish brown
spots scattered around the obverse.
Estimated Value $200-350.
Lot 518
1839. 9 over 6. Newcomb-1,
Rarity-3 Overdate. Del Bland graded VG-10. Sharpness of Fine-15 but
lightly porous with a small nick below the chin and a scratch over E in ONE.
Late die state with a prominent bisecting obverse crack. In great demand for
the overdate and variety.
Estimated Value $750-1,250.
Lot 519
1839. Head of 1838, beaded
cords. Newcomb-2, Rarity-1. PCGS graded EF-45 and Del Bland graded
VF-25. Medium brown and nice for the grade despite a few trivial handling
marks.
Strong definition on Liberty's curls, and with lovely color and
surfaces. A glass will locate a very minor spot on the reverse near the first S
of STATES.
Estimated Value $100-175.
Ex: Hollinbeck Stamp & Coin Co.
M.B.S. #28, 12/45:1132.
Lot 520
1839. Head of 1838, beaded
cords. Newcomb-2, Rarity-1. Del Bland graded EF-40. More than ten
points sharper but around most devices are traces of verdigris and on the
reverse rim at K6 are a couple of small nicks. Dark olive with lighter high
points.
The verdigris is light and not too offensive as such things go.
Estimated Value $125-175.
Ex: Barney Bluestone #84; 9/44:1161 as
"Prac Unc" for $1.60.
Lot 521
1839. Head of 1838, beaded
cords. Newcomb-3, Rarity-2. Del Bland graded EF-45. Light brown with
excellent surfaces that show only a couple tiny signs of handling.
Estimated Value $125-200.
Lot 522
1839. Silly head.
Newcomb-4, Rarity-2. PCGS graded MS-64 Red and Brown and Del Bland
graded AU-50. With a line like planchet defect from the edge left of star
one through 18 in the date. Mint State sharpness but cleaned and retoned to a
medium chocolate brown and red, the color so natural in appearance that it is
difficult to distinguish it from original mint red. Above the head is a
microscopic scratch, at ER in LIBERTY is a darkish spot, on a denticle above
the left side of the second S in STATES is a tiny nick and below CEN is a light
fingerprint.
The planchet defect appears to be a small crack in the
planchet, located in the first two digits of the date to the rim left and
below, this does not continue through to the other side. The color does appear
to be faded mint red toning over to brown. Examination with a glass will note
faint hairlines in the fields, and the reverse is a bit brighter in color than
the obverse.
Estimated Value $400-650.
Ex: James G. Macallister
7/2/45 as "Unc. Red" at $15.
Lot 523
1839. Silly head.
Newcomb-4, Rarity-2. Del Bland graded Fine-15. Sharpness of Very
Fine 35 but between the date and star two are some nicks, on the jaw are other
tiny ones too. On much of the reverse fine raised corrosion is evident. Cleaned
and nicely retoned to a medium chocolate brown with some traces of a reddish
color.
As to the reverse, the fine raised corrosion is spread about from top
to bottom, and this piece should be inspected by bidders.
Estimated Value
$40-60.
Ex: James G. Macallister 6/6/44 as "Unc." for $7.50.
Lot 524
1839. Petite head, type of
1840. Newcomb-8, Rarity-1. PCGS graded MS-64 Red and Brown and Del Bland
graded MS-63. A splendid mint red and medium chocolate brown cent that
rates as one of the best survivors of this variety. Under magnification a
couple tiny carbon spots become visible and between ONE and CENT is faint
evidence of a fingerprint. Choice and highly desirable.
Although a common
variety in mint state, this is certainly one of the nicer ones to come to
market. It has an excellent pedigree and the coin itself is highly desirable
for the original mint color and clean surfaces.
Estimated Value $400-700.
Ex: Richard B. Winsor; S. H. & H Chapman 12/1895:969 $8.; unknown; James
G. Macallister, circa 1944 as "Unc. Red" at $14.
Lot 525
1839. Petite head, type of
1840. Newcomb-8, Rarity-1. NGC graded MS-61 Brown, and Del Bland graded
EF-40. Five points sharper but cleaned and quite nicely retoned to a medium
dark steel brown with a lighter brown undertone on the obverse. Over E in CENT
is a very small nick, this being about the only defect.
Estimated Value
$250-350.