Feb. 16, 2001, The Benson Collection Part 1, Sale 8
Lot 1615
1796. Browning-2,
Rarity-5. Sharpness of AU-50 but buffed, cleaned and not original.
The surfaces of this have been stripped, buffed and not yet retoned. We
note a small area in the right obverse field where something has been buffed
out, and the coin was harshly cleaned leaving the surfaces rough and hairlined.
Nevertheless, this coin retains most of its original device detail and could
certainly be improved by an expert in toning. Clearly this is not a coin you
want to experiment on, someone has already done that, and not that successfully
we note. An important and rare type coin in any grade, especially this nice,
and certain to be improved before it is resold. The head on the eagle is weak
as nearly always seen. Minor adjustment marks on the rims, hidden by the
cleaning. A couple of shallow rim marks are noted on both sides. Far better
than we make it sound, but leave this one to the experts.
Estimated Value
$7,500-UP.
Lot 1616
1804. Browning-1,
Rarity-4. NGC graded Good-4. With full rims on the obverse, and most
of the reverse, with the lower rims worn into the tops of the lettering. A
tough date to find.
Estimated Value $800-900.
Lot 1617
1806. 6 over 5.
Browning-1, Rarity-2. NGC graded VG-8. Steel gray in color and there
are some minor surface scratches.
Estimated Value $175-225.
Lot 1618
1819. Small 9. Browning-3,
Rarity-1. AU-55. Antique gray toning ranging from light at the
centers to dark at the edges. A few dull scrapes in the left obverse field.
Estimated Value $900-1,000.
Lot 1619
1819. Small 9.
Browning-3C, Rarity-1. MS-60. Choice antique blue and gold toning
around the periphery, and silvery gray at the centers. Sharply struck and a
beautiful coin in every way. Several minor die cracks, including one up through
the first 1 in the date, another in from the eleventh star, and one on the
reverse up through the 5 in the denomination.
Estimated Value $1,250-1,500.
From Superior Stamp & Coin's Jascha Heifetz Sale, 10/89, lot 1463.
Lot 1620
1821. Browning-3,
Rarity-2. Sharpness of AU-50 but rim filed. Most of the reverse rim
has been filed off, down past the dentils. Inspection recommended, as the coin
looks fine otherwise, and many would scarcely notice the careful work done.
Most likely the coin was briefly mounted or had numerous rim marks, and these
were removed by careful filing.
Estimated Value $350-500.
Lot 1621
1825. 5 over 4.
Browning-3. NGC graded AU-53. With delicate rose tones and antique
gray on both sides. One long pin scratch through the central reverse, but well
struck and appealing for its colors.
Estimated Value $700-800.
Lot 1622
1827. Restrike. NGC
graded Proof 64 Restrike. Straight base of the 2 in 25¢ on the
reverse. Struck from the original 1827/3 quarter obverse die paired with a
reverse that had been used to coin 1819 quarters. Both dies exhibit extensive
rust, and it is believed that these were struck some years later, perhaps 1850
or 1860, possibly in the Philadelphia Mint where the original dies were stored.
Curiously, three examples exist of this restrike die pairing which show minimal
die rust, clearly showing that there was significant time between the first
restrikes and the second.
The surfaces of the coin are toned a deep bluish
gray with dark rose colors on Liberty. Moderate hairlines are noted in the
fields, covered over well by the toning. Similar toning and quality on the
reverse, with blue and sunset gold shades in the lettering and crossing
hairlines in the fields. A light die crack extends from the rim through the
right side of the U of UNITED into the eagles wing. The reverse die has been
lapped to reduce the extensive rust, quite a bit of which still shows. The D of
UNITED is cut very low into the die.
In the NGC Population Report, only
three have been graded as such, with four graded higher. Similar numbers at
PCGS, with just two graded as PF-64, and two graded higher, making this in the
top dozen known of perhaps 20 in all. Long reported that around a dozen were
known, which may still be true when one considers how many rare coins are
broken and out and resubmitted to various grading services while shopping for
the highest grade, and most market value. This skews the Population Reports and
makes pedigree tracing difficult at best. We do note a small tick mark on
Liberty just in front of her curl which rests on her shoulder. There is also a
minor dent on the left side of the horizontal shield lines, where the centering
dot normally would be.
The strike is sharp on the central devices, while
most of the stars only show parts of their central radial lines. As noted, the
reverse die was lapped making the devices thin and shallow, while the rust is
extensive, appearing as raised lumps in the fields and on some of the devices.
Normally dies are stored in a heavy coating of grease, which slows or prevents
this type of rust from occurring. On the earlier restrikes, planchets show
overstriking. Not so here, no traces of undertype could be found, and the rim
could not be examined as it is currently in a slab. In NGC holder #577063-001.
Estimated Value $50,000-UP.
Lot 1623
1838. Browning-1.
AU-55. Light hairlines from a cleaning, and now toned a light gold
color. Sharply struck and otherwise well preserved.
Estimated Value
$425-475.