Goldberg Coins and Collectibles

Sale 20

Pre-Long Beach Coin Auction

Half Cents

Lot	Photo	Description	Realized
Lot 1014		1797 Liberty Cap Half Cent. Plain edge. PCGS graded AU-53. Dark, chocolate brown color. Nice surfaces, free of defects except for a natural void between the I and C of AMERICA on the reverse. For this example, the dies must have come together perfectly parallel with ample pressure to bring up all of the details (it's hard to find any Liberty Cap Half Cent without some kind of weakness). Also, this is one of the most attractive 1797 varieties because of the near-perfect centering of Liberty's head and the extra-long denticles that make up the outer border of the obverse. PCGS reports 3 in this grade, with only 7 finer. Estimated Value $5,500 - 6,500. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $5,980
Lot 1015		1803 Draped Bust Half Cent. PCGS graded MS-61 Brown. PCGS reports 2 at this level, with 4 higher (the finest being MS-64 Brown). Struck on a gorgeous, defect-free planchet. Softly struck on the high points of the drapery and the upper part of the wreath (coincidentally, the opposite side of the coin). Nice and glossy, with a shimmering steel-brown color broken by an occasional fleck of red. Far superior to most examples seen of the date and the variety. Intermediate die state, showing only traces of the die break on the left side of the obverse. The reverse features what Roger Cohen called "Cross-eyed Zeroes." Estimated Value $5,000 - 6,000. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $5,405
Lot 1016		1804 Draped Bust Half Cent. Crosslet 4, stems. PCGS graded MS-62 Brown. Beautiful, olive brown surfaces. Three small spots on the obverse, one red and the other orange, serve to identify this as the plate coin from Roger Cohen's 1971 edition. PCGS has graded only 5 examples in this grade, with only 5 finer. A wonderful coin for the specialist. Estimated Value $2,000 - 2,200. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $1,610
Lot 1017		1804 Draped Bust Half Cent. Crosslet 4, stemless. PCGS graded MS-64 Brown. Well struck, with near flawless surfaces. A band of darker color arcs across the bottom of the obverse. The reverse is simply breathtaking -- it's so nice and original. PCGS reports 2 examples at the MS-64 Brown level, with none higher in that color (the only finer example is a PCGS graded MS-64 Red and Brown). Estimated Value $5,500 - 6,500. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $4,600
Lot 1018		1804 Draped Bust Half Cent. "Spiked chin". PCGS graded MS-62 Brown. Clay red and brown colors on both sides, with hints of olive added to the reverse. Breen's State VII, with the rim cud covering LIBE but not the R. PCGS reports 2 in this grade, with 10 higher. Estimated Value $2,800 - 3,200. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 1019		1804 Draped Bust Half Cent. "Spiked chin". PCGS graded AU-58. Glossy brown, with defect-free surfaces. The reverse has tempting traces of faded mint red in the protected areas. The cause of the Spiked Chin is as yet unknown. However, we do know that the die started out in perfect condition, then developed a spike that protrudes from Liberty's chin and a series of wavy lines in front of her bust. One interesting theory is that a screw of some sort was impressed into the die at some time during the coining process. Whatever the cause, the Spiked Chin is one of the most famous and popular of all U.S. die varieties. Estimated Value $1,800 - 2,200. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 1020		1806 Draped Bust Half Cent. Small 6, stemless. EF-45. Medium brown with some darker areas on the obverse. Estimated Value $125 - 150. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $276
Lot 1021		1809 Classic Head Half Cent. 9 over 6. MS-60 Brown. As usual, the left side stars are not fully defined, yet all the curls on Liberty are sharp and distinct. Medium chocolate brown in color with slight roughness on the reverse around CEN. Estimated Value $550 - 650. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 1022		Classic Head Half Cent. 1833. NGC graded MS-64 Red & Brown Premium Quality. Far more glowing mint red than brown, in fact, with enough proof-like surface qualities as to be suggestive of a proof. Highly appealing and well struck as well. Estimated Value $800 - 1,200. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $2,040
Lot 1023		1852 Coronet Head Half Cent. Restrike. Small berries. PCGS graded Proof 65 Brown. The so-called "First Restrike," featuring a doubled T in CENT and doubled wreath bow. Beautiful, olive and gold toning and glittering Proof surfaces. PCGS reports 6 in this grade, with none higher. Tied for Finest Known at PCGS. This Restrike shares a reverse with all of the 1840-1849 First Restrikes and the 1856 and 1857 Proofs, indicating that it was made sometime after 1856-1857 to satisfy collector demand. This coincides with the Mint's first offering of Proof coins to the public in 1859. One can envision excited collectors applying to the Mint for Proof examples of earlier years. While there is no evidence to substantiate this vision, clearly the Mint had a new motive (profit) to restrike these pieces. Estimated Value $5,000 - 5,500. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $5,290