Feb. 16, 2001, The Benson Collection Part 1, Sale 8

Cents

Coronet Type

Lot 551
1843. Type of 1844. Newcomb-5, Rarity-1. Del Bland graded AU-55. Choice medium and light chocolate brown surfaces, the color faded from mint red and marred only by a microscopic nick opposite the forelock and a slightly larger one in the field behind the neck. This is a splendid cent. Middle die state. NGC graded MS62 Brown, but broken out of the slab.
Estimated Value $500-800.
Ex: Delaware Valley Coin Co. F.P.L. (Coin World) 7/17/95; G. Les Dawson; M & G Auctions 8/96:434; Robinson S. Brown, Jr.; privately to our consignor.

Lot 552
1843. Mature head, large letters. Newcomb-5, Rarity-1. Del Bland graded VF-30. Medium dark chocolate brown and relatively clean for the grade. Early die state.
Estimated Value $75-100.
Ex: Ira S. Reed 10/3/45 as "Abt. Unc." for $7.

Lot 553
1843. Mature head, large letters. Newcomb-6, Rarity-1. Del Bland graded VF-20. Medium chocolate brown and nice. Early die state.
Estimated Value $25-50.
Ex: James G. Macallister 10/17/44 as "VF" for $3.

Lot 554
1843. Petite head, small letters. Newcomb-10, Rarity-3. PCGS graded AU-58 and Del Bland graded EF-40. Excellent medium dark chocolate brown surfaces. Later die state.
Satiny brown luster in the fields, and very well preserved.
Estimated Value $100-150.
Ex: James G. Macallister as "Unc." circa 1944 for $5.

Lot 555
1843. Type of 1842. Newcomb-10, Rarity-3. Del Bland graded EF-45. Uniform light brown with a few faint handling marks, mostly on the obverse, including one on the jaw and a larger nick on the bust.
Estimated Value $200-350.

Lot 556
1845. Newcomb-4, Rarity-1. Del Bland graded MS-60. Light brown, well struck and centered with a tiny nick on the rim right of star ten and another on the edge right of star eleven.
Estimated Value $325-450.

Lot 557
1845. Newcomb-5, Rarity-1. PCGS graded MS-64 Red and Brown and Del Bland graded MS-63. The obverse is brown and mint red, the reverse is full mint red just beginning to tone to brown. A lovely cent marred only by a nick right of star nine and there is a tiny dark red spot touching star seven. Earlier die state with the points from the main curl gone. Tied with several others for the third finest known.
This is a beautiful cent in every way. The color, surfaces and strike combine to make this lot a memorable offering for the specialist in late date large cents.
Estimated Value $300-500.
Ex: Ira S. Reed 9/27/44 for $15.

Lot 558
1845. Newcomb-11, High Rarity-3. Del Bland graded AU-55. With a short, curved lint mark below the chin. Splendid darkish chocolate brown surfaces displaying a couple of unimportant nicks between the tops of stars six and seven. This is a top notch example of a scarce variety. Early die state.
Estimated Value $300-450.

Lot 559
1846. Small date. Newcomb-1, Rarity-1. Del Bland graded MS-61. Medium steel brown with considerable mint red around the devices. Sharply struck with tiny nicks above 6 in the date, midway between stars seven and eight are a cluster of them opposite the chin which blend well into the patina. Early to middle die state.
This is a very pretty coin that shows recutting on the base of the 1 and light die cracks through the date and stars. Impressive for the variety.
Estimated Value $350-450.

Lot 560
1846. Small date. Newcomb-8, Rarity-1. Del Bland graded EF-40. Pleasing glossy medium dark chocolate brown surfaces. Intermediate die state.
A nice example of the broad and crooked 1 in the date variety. The surfaces and color are very appealing.
Estimated Value $75-100.
Ex: Ira S. Reed, circa 1944.

Lot 561
1846. Tall date. Newcomb-14, Rarity-2. PCGS graded MS-64 Brown and Del Bland graded MS-60. With small low spots within and left of O in ONE and above and right of T in CENT. Beautiful glossy medium chocolate brown surfaces, well struck with almost all the stars showing full radial lines. Flawless except for microscopic nicks on the jaw and upper neck and a minor scratch on C in CENT. The N of CENT exhibits slight doubling on the left base, this probably being a scratch (In the Dr. French F.P.L., Mehl says "the bottom of the left standard of M (sic) double cut"). Early die state. Tied for second finest known with one other example.
After carefully examining the letters CENT, it appears that the left base of the N is similar to the bases of E and T, and the apparent doubling, or scratch, is nothing but a striking anomaly. We invite interested bidders to see for themselves to make up their own minds. There is a dull scrape on C of CENT, and the blunt instrument which caused it also left a minute depression in the field below that letter. Close examination will confirm that this is a very choice coin, and one that is further enhanced by the Dr. French pedigree. This coin includes the small brown box and the Mehl envelope from the his 1945 Auction.
Estimated Value $500-750.
Ex: Allison W. Jackman; Henry Chapman 6/18:820: $3.25; Dr. George P. French 3/21/29; B. Max Mehl F.P.L. 1929:663 %10; T. James Clarke 1944; B. Max Mehl M.B.S. #106 6/45:1905 at $7.50.

Lot 562
1846. Tall date. Newcomb-14, Rarity-2. Del Bland graded VF-35. Sharpness of About Uncirculated-55 but lightly whizzed and retoned to medium and light brown. Early to middle die state.
Quite natural appearing, although there are some streaks on the reverse. As the whizzing is very light, most would not notice it and the coin could be retoned to a more natural color.
Estimated Value $50-100.

Lot 563
1847. Newcomb-1, Rarity-2. Del Bland graded AU-55. Excellent darkish steel brown surfaces kept from perfection only by a faint vertical scratch on the lower neck. A sharply struck example of a variety often seen with some weakness. Late die state.
Estimated Value $250-375.

Lot 564
1847. Newcomb-14, High Rarity-4. SEGS graded AU-58. Medium dark chocolate brown with faint evidence of faded mint color through much of the legend. Perfect surfaces and very nice. Late die state.
Estimated Value $275-400.

Lot 565
1847. Newcomb-15, High Rarity-4. PCGS graded MS-64 Red and Brown and Del Bland graded MS-62. Medium steel brown and mint red with two minute nicks at the right point of star four and on the ear is a light dent. Below the chin, on back of the face and in the right obverse field are light streaks where the patina has been broken by some object. Early die state, well struck and all stars except the fifth showing full radial lines. Second finest known.
The areas mentioned where the patina is broken are quite unimportant, they appear to be handling marks which have not fully toned over as of yet. As to mark on Liberty's ear, it is minute at best. An outstanding cent that boasts excellent color and surfaces, and is decidedly scarce as a variety. The 1 is recut at the base, and the 7 has an extra base from a mispunched 7 to the lower right. An exciting coin for the collector.
Estimated Value $500-750.
Ex: James G. Macallister, circa 1945 as "Unc." for $3.50.

Lot 566
1848. Newcomb-22, Rarity-1. PCGS graded MS-64 Brown and Del Bland graded MS-62. Semi-prooflike brown and mint red surface on the obverse, uniform brown with evidence of faded mint red on the reverse. Between stars nine and ten is a very small, thin nick. Scattered around the obverse are a few tiny dark spots and microscopic nicks mentioned for the sake of accuracy. Intermediate die state. Tied for finest known with at least two others.
An excellent cent that is graced by lovely original mint red toning to brown, with splendid surfaces and abundant eye appeal throughout. Well struck, with local weakness on the third, fourth and sixth stars only. The reverse die crack is noted through the tops of the legend, save for RICA of AMERICA.
Estimated Value $250-500.
Ex: James G. Macallister, circa 1945 as "Unc." for $3.50.

Lot 567
1848. Newcomb-22, Rarity-1. Del Bland graded EF-45. Sharpness of About Uncirculated-55 but cleaned and nicely retoned to a dark steel color with brown undertones, especially on the reverse. Along the top line of the bust is a light scrape mark, on 1 in the date is a nick and on the lower line of the bust is another. Intermediate die state.
The dull object which caused the nick on the 1 and the bust also lightly tapped the denticle left of the date, and these undoubtedly happened at the same time. Partial "fin" around the upper obverse and reverse rims. A very nice coin for the grade assigned.
Estimated Value $50-75.
Ex: S. H. Chapman; unknown; John Boss 8/28/45 as "Imp. Proof" $10.

Lot 568
1848. Newcomb-39, Rarity-5. NGC graded AU-55 and Del Bland graded VF-35. Five points sharper but several tiny abrasions on the face, neck, and in the field opposite the chin and elsewhere on both sides. Medium chocolate brown. Attributed as "N-5" incorrectly on the NGC label.
We note a few of the upper stars are not fully struck up, and the coin has minor handling marks on the devices and surrounding fields.
Estimated Value $300-400.

Lot 569
1849. Newcomb-8, Rarity-2. PCGS graded MS-63 Red and Brown and Del Bland graded MS-63. With a large shallow low area from the lower jaw through the neck and into the bust and a minute planchet defect at star ten. Full mint red beginning to tone to brown. Marred only by a microscopic nick above the head, a small minor dent on the lower right side of 9 in the date and traces of light carbon on areas of the obverse. Intermediate die state with many of the reverse devices double lined. Tied with at least two others for second finest known.
An exceptional example of this variety, and certain to attract considerable attention for the abundant mint color and pristine surfaces.
Estimated Value $250-500.
Ex: T. James Clarke, 1944; B. Max Mehl; B. Max Mehl M.B.S. #106 6/45:1941 as "A-9" for $3.50.

Lot 570
1849. Mint error, struck 10 percent off center. Newcomb-8, Rarity-2. Del Bland graded VF-20. Off center at K8½ on the obverse and K10½ on the reverse. Medium chocolate brown, the surfaces clean and attractive.
Estimated Value $250-350.

Lot 571
1849. Newcomb-11, Rarity-1. Del Bland graded EF-45. More than five points sharper but cleaned and retoned to a reddish light tan color, darker on the reverse with small nicks near star one and behind the eye. Later die state.
Estimated Value $100-300.

Lot 572
1849. Newcomb-22 (N-6), Rarity-1. Del Bland graded EF-45. Sharpness of Choice About Uncirculated-55 but in the obverse fields are some scuff marks that appear to be mint red and left of star four is an edge dent. Late die state.
This is a beautiful cent that has nice surfaces and abundant appealing color.
Estimated Value $100-150.

Lot 573
1850. Newcomb-7, Rarity-1. Del Bland graded MS-63. Wholly mint red mellowing to brown separated from perfection only by darkish spots at star one and touching the curl behind the head.
Estimated Value $350-550.

Lot 574
1850. Newcomb-7, Rarity-1. Del Bland graded AU-55. Choice medium light steel brown surfaces, very nearly flawless.
Estimated Value $150-300.

Lot 575
1850. Newcomb-9, Rarity-2. Del Bland graded AU-50. Just about mint state in sharpness but cleaned and retoned to a reddish steel tan color on the obverse and medium steel brown on the reverse. Over stars two to four are some thin pin scratches.
Estimated Value $125-250.