Goldberg Coins and Collectibles

Sale 60

Pre-Long Beach Coin Auction

The Davy Collection of Half Cent Errors

Lot	Photo	Description	Realized
Lot 1		1793 C-1 R3+ Liberty Cap, Head Left VG8. Blundered Edge. Sharpness F12 but covered with extremely fine granularity that is partially obscured by the slightly glossy dark olive and steel patina. The only mark is a small, very shallow pit in the middle of the fraction bar. The obverse is rather glossy and offers nice eye appeal for the grade while the reverse is relatively dull. MDS, Manley state 2.0, with swelling in the center of the reverse that weakens HALF CENT. The date is bold and the remainder of the legends are clear. Struck with the obverse slightly misaligned to K-9. The edge lettering is blundered reading "FOR A DOLLWO HUNDRED". This type of error occurred when the Castaing machine was not reset all the way to the null (starting) position before adding the edge lettering to a planchet prior to striking. Weight 109.5 grains. Davy #93.1.4. Estimated Value $2,500-UP. Ex McCawley & Grellman MBS 6/14/94:10. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $7,475
Lot 2		1793 C-2 R3 Liberty Cap, Head Left G5. Off Center with Collar Post Indent. Several points sharper but covered with uniform fine granularity. No verdigris or circulation marks, and the toning is a uniform olive and steel brown. The surfaces are dull thanks to the microscopic roughness, but the date and legends are easily readable (at least those that made it on to the planchet). The edge lettering is complete and clear. Struck 20% off center to K-12.5. A strong indent created by the short post that held the collar in place on the press is located on the unstruck portion of the planchet. Fortunately for us, the planchet just happened to be off center in the direction of this post. The upper end of the post was slightly above the level of the coining chamber and the force of the strike created a deep, well defined impression of the post on the unstruck part of the planchet. In addition, the strike pressure against the post was sufficient to bend the unstruck portion of the planchet in the opposite direction from the indent. The struck portion of this half cent is not bent. Obviously the hammer die was the reverse. A truly remarkable error. While off center strikes are known throughout the half cent series, this is the only example with an indent from the collar post. Weight 98.0 grains. Davy #93.2.4. Estimated Value $2,000-UP. Ex McLaughlin & Robinson Auctions #4369, 2/27/88:398. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $5,060
Lot 3		1793 C-2 R3 Liberty Cap, Head Left G4. Blundered Edge Lettering. Several points sharper but the planchet is lightly eroded under a mostly glossy chocolate brown patina. No verdigris, and the only marks are some dull hairline scratches hidden in the toning on both sides. The date is complete and easily readable but relatively weak, and the legends are nearly complete. The edge lettering is blundered reading "TWO HUNDRED FOR A DOLLA" (Castaing machine not properly reset to the null position before adding the edge lettering to the planchet). This piece is noted for its blundered edge at the bottom of page 5 in the Manley book on the half cent series. Weight 85.1 grains. Davy #93.2.5. Estimated Value $1,500-UP. Ex Kermit Smyth 5/19/98. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $1,955
Lot 4		1794 C-1a R3 Liberty Cap, Head Right EF40. Double Struck over Partial Obverse Brockage. Repunched 179. Large Edge Letters. Very attractive glossy chocolate brown delicately blended with slightly lighter and darker tones. The only marks are a thin, shallow struck-through line (caused by a tiny piece of thread from a cleaning rag stuck to the die or planchet during striking) that meanders from the bottom of the bust to the right side of the 4, and a thin diagonal scratch through the top of the 4. This half cent was struck at least two times. There is a 90% off center obverse brockage impression on the right side of the obverse and an arc of strongly impressed dentils located about 10% off center through MERIC. Sharply struck LDS, Manley state 3.0, showing clear die clashmarks on both sides. The repunching on the 179 is strong. A beautiful early mint error. Weight 107.4 grains. Davy #94.1a.5. Estimated Value $4,000-UP. Ex Gordon Wrubel 12/3/83. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $7,763
Lot 5		1794 C-1a R3 Liberty Cap, Head Right AG3. Triple Struck. Repunched 179. Large Edge Letters. A couple points sharper in many areas but the strike is uneven. The surfaces are decent but not perfectly smooth. A glass reveals extremely fine granularity in the fields and protected areas on both sides. No verdigris, but there are some contact marks. The notable ones are a dull dig in the field near the rim before the neck and fine hairline scratches on the left side of the obverse. This piece was struck three times. Two distinct arcs of dentils are located on the jaw and neck indicating this piece was struck 40-50% off center a couple times before the final centered strike. The date is no longer visible and slightly more than half the legends are readable. Weight 103.4 grains. Davy #94.1a.9. Estimated Value $600-UP. Ex Shawn Yancey 9/28/07. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $242
Lot 6		1794 C-1a R3 Liberty Cap, Head Right F12. Blundered Edge. Repunched 179. Large Edge Letters. Sharpness VF30 but the surfaces are slightly uneven and there are specks of greenish verdigris scattered over both sides. The roughness is strongest in the field under the cap where there is a patch of shallow pitting. Glossy light olive and chocolate brown. Possibly lightly burnished but the eye appeal is decent considering the imperfect surfaces. LDS, Manley state 3.0, with clear die clashmarks on both sides and the reverse rotated 15 degrees CCW from a normal head-to-foot die orientation. The date and legends are complete and clear, and the repunching on the 179 is visible. The edge lettering is blundered and reads "TWO HUNDROR A DOLLAR" and the R in HUNDR overlaps the O in OR. Once again, the Castaing machine was not reset properly before adding the edge lettering to a planchet, and we are able to enjoy an early mint error. This specific error is mentioned on page 11 in Ron Manley's book on the half cent series. Manley calls this type of error very rare and reports that Walter Breen had never seen one on a half cent. Weight 97.7 grains. Davy #94.1a.8. Estimated Value $300-UP. Ex Bowers & Merena 11/18/94:2002. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $949
Lot 7		1794 C-1a R3 Liberty Cap, Head Right VG8. Blundered Edge. Repunched 179. Large Edge Letters. Sharpness F12 with very light roughness covering the planchet. No verdigris and only minor contact marks, including a thin horizontal scratch or struck-through line at the bottom edge of the lowest curl and a collection of dull, light scratches inside the wreath. Glossy chocolate brown. EDS, Manley state 1.0. There are no visible die clashmarks and the reverse is rotated 40 degrees CW. The date is clear and the legends are readable, but the repunching on the 179 is faint. The edge lettering is strong and is blundered reading "TWO HUNDRR A DOLLAR" thanks to operator error using the Castaing machine. Manley was aware of three examples of the variety with a blundered edge, all with similar errors where the end of HUNDRED and the beginning of FOR were overlapped. We are aware of four examples, and two of them are offered in this sale. In addition, there is a minor planchet clip affecting only the rim over ME in AMERICA. Weight 93.9 grains. Davy #94.1a.7. Estimated Value $400-UP. Ex Chris McCawley 4/20/07. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $483
Lot 8		1794 C-1a R3 Liberty Cap, Head Right VF25. Incomplete (Tapered) Planchet. Repunched 179. Large Edge Letters. Breen Plate Coin. Attractive glossy chocolate and steel with frosty slightly lighter steel brown toning in protected areas. No roughness or verdigris, only small marks. Most of the marks are pre-striking planchet chips that didn't smooth out during the strike due to the uneven impression caused by the slightly tapered planchet. As a result the date is missing as is the opposing STATES while the remaining details are clear. Breen calls this a "Tapered Planchet" error, and this piece is plated to illustrate that type of mint error on page 470 of Walter Breen's Encyclopedia of United States Half Cents 1793-1857. The only other marks are a couple small planchet voids left of the L in LIBERTY and a dull scratch through the D in UNITED. LDS, Manley state 3.0. The die clashmarks are clear and the reverse is rotated 30 degrees CCW. An attractive half cent with additional cachet as the Breen plate coin for this type of mint error. Weight 91.8 grains (standard is 104.0 grains). Davy #94.1a.3. Estimated Value $1,000-UP. Ex Stack's (Prock-Fenn Sale) 4/21/77:991. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $2,415
Lot 9		1794 C-2a R2+ Liberty Cap, Head Right G5. Tab Double Strike. Small Edge Letters. Sharpness F12 but there are several pitmarks on the obverse and the surfaces display minor roughness elsewhere on both sides. No verdigris or significant contact marks. Slightly glossy dark steel and olive brown. Double struck. The first strike was normal but the coin failed to eject completely and it was struck a second time. The second impression was 95% off center and the obverse die created a tab at the top of the obverse while the new blank planchet left an indent at the opposing spot on the reverse. The obverse tab shows the bottom of the "17" from the date, which is a significant bonus. M-LDS, Manley state 3.0, with strong die clashmarks at the neck. The date and legends are complete and clear except where affected by the tab strike. An extremely rare type of mint error, the only example known to this cataloger on a 1794 half cent. Weight 99.3 grains. Davy #94.2a.5. Estimated Value $400-UP. Ex Rick DeSanctis, McCawley & Grellman Auctions/Superior 8/1/02:2453. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $437
Lot 10		1794 C-4a R3 Liberty Cap, Head Right VG8. Blundered Edge. Small Edge Letters. Sharpness VF25 but "1854" has been strongly punched over the 1794 date nearly obliterating the original numerals. Fortunately you can still make out the original digits, but the impact of this intentional defacement is very significant and arriving at a net grade is difficult. The only other notable defect is a relatively large planchet chip under the I in AMERICA, as struck. Lightly cleaned and retoned glossy light olive and steel with golden tan toning in protected areas. M-LDS, Manley state 3.0, with strong swelling left of the date. The edge lettering is blundered with HUND clearly impressed over LAR of DOLLAR. The HUN is on top of the LAR while the D follows the R. Apparently this planchet went through the Castaing machine twice, once completely and another time only far enough to add HUND. The sequence is anyone's guess, but this type of edge blunder is much rarer than the typical one created when the machine is not reset all the way to the starting position causing incomplete lettering. Weight 107.2 grains. Davy #94.4a.7. Estimated Value $500-UP. Ex Dr. Wallace Lee 5/9/86. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $690
Lot 11		1794 C-4a R3 Liberty Cap, Head Right AG3+. Blundered Edge. Small Edge Letters. The obverse is slightly better and attractive for the grade while the reverse is a bit weaker and displays traces of microscopic roughness. Glossy chocolate brown with olive brown toning in protected areas. No marks or verdigris. The date is strong but only about half of the legends are clear. EDS, Manley state 1.0. The edge lettering is blundered and reads "TWO HUNDREDOR A DOLLAR" with the F impressed on top of the D in HUNDRED. The edge lettering is clear and the blunder is obvious. Yes another example of the type of error caused when the Castaing machine was improperly operated at the mint. Weight 104.1 grains. Davy #94.4a.12. Estimated Value $300-UP. Ex Bill Weber, 2001 EAC Sale, McCawley & Grellman Auctions 3/31/01:30. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $529
Lot 12		1794 C-8 R5 Liberty Cap, Head Right G4. Triple Edge Lettering. Sharpness VF20 or so but moderately corroded under a glossy chocolate brown patina. The color is attractive but the surfaces are not. Fortunately the date and legends are complete and readable. No verdigris or contact marks. The edge lettering is blundered (tripled) with "DOLLAR" visible three times in succession indicating this planchet went through the Castaing machine at least 3 times. You would be hard pressed to find a complete rendering of "TWO HUNDRED FOR A DOLLAR" thanks to the multitude of letters on the limited space available, but DOLL is clearly visible three times. All three impressions are oriented with the top of the letters on the obverse side of the planchet. An extremely rare error on a very rare die variety. Weight 105.4 grains. Davy #94.8.7. Estimated Value $400-UP. Ex Richard Gross 4/27/07. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $633
Lot 13		1794 C-9 R2 Liberty Cap, Head Right G5. Double Struck over Off Center Brockage. The obverse is sharper while the reverse is weaker. Both sides are covered with fine granularity but there are no marks or verdigris. The date and most of the legends are readable, but AMERICA is weak. Dark steel brown and chocolate. An arc of incuse dentils from an attempted initial strike is located about 65% off center on the right side of the reverse. LDS, Manley state 3.0. Weight 101.6 grains. Davy #94.8.6. Estimated Value $400-UP. Ex Cybercoins.net 9/21/06. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $414
Lot 14		1794 C-9 R2 Liberty Cap, Head Right VG10. Blundered Edge Letters. Very slightly sharper, especially on the obverse, but there is a dull rim bruise at RTY and a light rim nick at the second S in STATES. The surfaces are smooth and the eye appeal is quite nice. Glossy chocolate and steel. LDS, Manley state 3.0, showing a clear die crack from the dentils to the cap. The edge lettering is badly blundered and reads "TWO HUNDR DOLLAR" leaving half the edge void of any lettering. Weight 108.2 grains. Davy #94.9.7. Estimated Value $500-UP. Ex Bill Weber 8/11/98. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $1,553
Lot 15		1794 C-9 R2 Liberty Cap, Head Right G6. Blundered Edge Letters. Sharpness VG10 but the planchet is very slightly bent. The surfaces are smooth, free of any trace of corrosion or verdigris, but there are some obvious contact marks. These include a strong dig under the earlobe, a pair of dull pinpricks at the 17, a collection of dull marks at AT in STATES, and a few more small ones at MERI. Glossy medium brown. The date is strong and the legends are clear. MDS, Manley state 2.0. The die crack from the dentils to the cap is light. The edge lettering is blundered and reads "TWO HUNDREAD DOLLAR" with the A jammed between the E & D in DOLLAR. Weight 112.3 grains. Davy #94.9.10. Estimated Value $800-UP. Ex Dan Trollan 4/22/05. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $552
Lot 16		1794 C-9 R2 Liberty Cap, Head Right VG8. Thin Planchet with Lettered Edge. Sharpness slightly better but the planchet is covered with minor roughness. No verdigris, only some tiny rim nicks on the reverse, none notable. Slightly glossy dark olive and steel. The date and legends are complete and easily readable. EDS, Manley state 1.0, before the die crack from the dentils to the cap. The planchet is thin weighing only 79.1 grains (versus the 104.0 grain standard for 1794 half cents) and the edge is lettered. The lettering is clear although some of the letters hang off the planchet due its decreased thickness. This planchet is far closer in weight and thickness to those struck using the 84.0 grain standard authorized in January 1796. A very few examples are known similar to the piece offered here, and it has been suggested these were struck to test the Mint's ability to strike pieces with the reduced thickness and weight. No other varieties of 1794 half cents are known struck on planchets this light, although a few examples of 1795 C-1 and 1795 C-2a are known on similar lightweight planchets. It could be argued that the lightweight strikes deserve a different variety number (such as 1794 C-9b in this case) especially if you accept the theory that these were struck intentionally at the lighter weight. Weight 79.1 grains. Davy #94.9b.5. Estimated Value $400-UP. Ex Jonathan Kern (via Chris McCawley) 10/1/05. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $1,495
Lot 17		1794 C-9 R2 Liberty Cap, Head Right VG8. Thin Planchet with Lettered Edge. Sharpness F15 or better but dark with patches of shallow pitting on the obverse and a few minor rim bruises on the reverse. The pitting is located mostly around the date and at ERTY. No verdigris. Glossy dark olive and steel with slightly lighter dark steel brown toning on the high points. The date and legends are complete and easily readable in spite of the isolated areas of roughness. MDS, Manley state 2.0. The die crack from the dentils to the cap is visible but not strong. Struck on a lightweight planchet (88.0 grains versus the 104.0 grain standard for 1794 half cents) and it has a lettered edge. Many of the edge letters hang off the thin planchet, but they all remain readable. Similar to the preceding lot, but slightly heavier and struck from a later state of the dies. We know of only 3 examples struck on a thin, lettered edge planchet (see page 45 in the Manley book on the series), and two of those are offered in this sale. Weight 88.0 grains. Davy #94.9b.4. Estimated Value $400-UP. Ex Bill Weber, McCawley & Grellman Auctions/Superior 5/31/99:1396. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $719
Lot 18		1795 C-1 R2 Lettered Edge VF30+. End-of-Strip Planchet Clip. Ten points sharper with some light marks, none serious or visible without the aid of a strong glass, plus a patch of minor roughness over the tip of the pole that may have been present when the coin was struck. Lightly cleaned and retoned a very attractive and natural-looking glossy medium brown and chocolate with a swipe of darker chocolate toning at LIBE to the top of the cap. The eye appeal of this half cent is fantastic and consistent with a significantly higher grade. LDS, Manley state 2.0, showing a subtle bulge at AME. There is a relatively large ragged end-of-strip planchet clip at the top of the cap extending to the E in LIBERTY with a similar clip at UNI to the 2 in the denominator. A very impressive example of this type of mint error. Weight 105.5 grains. Davy #95.1.5. Estimated Value $2,000-UP. Ex Moreira sale, part 3, Superior 1/29/89:3041. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $4,600
Lot 19		1795 C-1 R2 Lettered Edge VG8. Heavyweight Planchet. Attractive glossy chocolate and olive brown. Smooth and choice, virtually perfect for the grade. Nicely struck on an overweight planchet weighing 118.9 grains versus the mint standard of 104.0 grains. (This specific coin is mentioned in the last paragraph on page 45 of Manley's book on the series where he lists two heavyweight examples: this piece and one from the Eliasberg collection.) EDS, Manley state 1.0, before the swelling at AME. Weight 118.9 grains. Davy #95.1.6. Estimated Value $500-UP. Ex Ray D. Munde-Roger S. Cohen, Jr., Superior 2/2/92:41. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $2,530
Lot 20		1795 C-1 R2 Lettered Edge G6. Thin, Underweight Planchet. Rather glossy reddish chocolate brown with medium brown toning covering the devices. An attractive two-tone half cent. Nicely struck and well balanced showing a clear date and full legends. Extremely faint roughness covers the fields and protected areas, but the eye appeal is quite nice for the grade. A thin diagonal nick in the field well right of the Y in LIBERTY is the only notable mark. LDS, Manley state 2.0, with minor swelling at AME. Struck on a thin planchet weighing only 92.7 grains (versus the standard of 104.0 grains). The edge lettering is strong but many of the letters hang off the planchet due to its reduced thickness. According to Manley, only three die varieties of lettered edge half cents are known struck on seriously underweight planchets weighing at or near the 84.0 grain standard for thin, plain edge half cents (94C9, 95C1, and 95C2a). All three are represented in this sale. Weight 92.7 grains. Davy #95.1b.2. Estimated Value $600-UP. Ex Don Valenziano 6/19/91. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $863
Lot 21		1795 C-1 R2 "Plain Edge" G5. "Plain Edge." This reportedly is the example listed in Gilbert as a separate variety (his #2) struck on a plain edge (unlettered) planchet of normal thickness and weight. Unfortunately, the edge lettering was simply removed from a normal lettered edge example, and this alteration fooled at least that one expert. Sharpness F15 or better, but in addition to the edge smoothing that removed all traces of the edge lettering there is moderate corrosion covering much of the planchet and some dull rim nicks as well, strongest at ICA in AMERICA. No verdigris. Slightly glossy steel brown. An impressive half cent in its own right, but important today for its connection to Gilbert and the error in his book on the series. Weight 103.6 grains. Davy #95.1c.1. Estimated Value $200-UP. Ex Ozzie Oswald 7/27/84. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $546
Lot 22		1795 C-2a R3 Lettered Edge VG10. Double Struck on Clipped Planchet. Attractive glossy chocolate and steel. The surfaces are smooth and nearly flawless offering excellent eye appeal. The best identifying marks are a tiny rim nick at BE in LIBERTY and a very tiny rim bruise over the A in STATES. LDS, Manley state 3.0, with strong swelling at AME and a faint die clashmark connecting the F in OF to the leaf below. The reverse is double struck, but the shift between impressions was less than a millimeter. Nonetheless, doubling is clearly visible on the wreath, legends, and dentils. In addition, the planchet is clipped at the top of the cap and over UNIT reaching slightly inside the dentils on both sides. The arc of this clip is consistent with a large cent rather than a half cent, so it is possible this planchet was cut from a spoiled large cent. Regardless, it's a beautiful double-error half cent. Weight 102.2 grains. Davy #95.2a.5. Estimated Value $600-UP. Ex Paul Munson-Roger S. Cohen, Jr., Superior 2/2/92:45. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $1,955
Lot 23		1795 C-2a R3 Lettered Edge G6. Thin, Underweight Planchet. Sharpness F12 but there is a strong, dull dent on the cap with a resulting bulge under the C in CENT. The planchet displays uniform extremely fine roughness but no verdigris. The date and legends are strong except for CE in CENT thanks to the bulge. Slightly glossy chocolate and steel with darker olive brown toning in protected areas. MDS, Manley state 2.0. The swelling at AME is strong. Struck on a thin lettered edge planchet that is seriously underweight at 81.3 grains. Most of the edge letters hang off the edge as they are simply too tall to fit. Manley lists three examples of this variety struck on a thin lettered edge planchet, and this one is the lightest of that group (see page 45 in Manley's book). Since the transition from thick (104.0 grain) lettered edge planchets to thin (84.0 grain) planchets with a plain edge occurred during production of this variety, it is reasonable to assume that a few planchets got misdirected. Several of the thin planchets received edge lettering while at least one thick planchet escaped the Castaing machine and was struck without the edge lettering (see Manley page 49). Weight 81.3 grains. Davy #95.2c.1. Estimated Value $400-UP. Ex Julian Leidman 10/22/90. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $1,323
Lot 24		1795 C-4 R3 Plain Edge AU50. Off Center. Cohen Plate Coin. Five points sharper with a shallow depression (probably pre-striking) in the unstruck portion of the planchet outside the dentils opposite the neck. Otherwise free of contact marks, only the usual tiny planchet flakes or chips showing on the portrait and center of the reverse where some of the normal planchet imperfections didn�t completely smooth out during the strike. Lustrous chocolate and steel brown with delicate splashes of reddish chocolate and olive on both sides. The fields are slightly reflective and mint luster covers the reverse. Struck 10% off center to K-9. An outstanding example of an early mint error. Plated at page 21 in the second edition of the Cohen book on the "Little Half Sisters." Weight 88.1 grains. Davy #95.4.4. Estimated Value $3,000-UP. Ex Kagin's MANA Sale 11/74:3-NERCG FPL #4, 1975-Pine Tree�s Dr. Conway Bolt Sale, 11/75-Pine Tree 1/78:66-Benjamin Levin at the 1979 ANA Convention-Roger S. Cohen, Jr., Superior 2/2/92:48. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $9,775
Lot 25		1795 C-4 R3 Plain Edge VG10. Off Center. Slightly sharper but the obverse was lightly burnished to minimize traces of minor roughness and retoned glossy medium brown with a few tiny splashes of chocolate. The reverse is uniform glossy medium brown but the color is original on that side and the surfaces are smooth. No notable marks or other defects. E-MDS, Manley state 2.0 early. The bulge in the field before the portrait is weak but present and the crack from the first T in STATES to the leaf is light. The date and legends are strong except for the usual weakness inside the wreath. Struck 5% off center to K-10. Weight 82.4 grains. Davy #95.4.7. Estimated Value $600-UP. Ex Don Valenziano 8/8/92. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $690
Lot 26		1795 C-4 R3 Plain Edge VG7. Flipover Double Strike with 2 Complete Dates. Slightly sharper but there are a half dozen small digs in the field before the neck. Otherwise the surfaces are smooth and attractive with only minor contact marks. EDS, Manley state 1.0. This piece was dramatically double struck. The initial impression was 20% off center to K-3. The planchet was then flipped over and restruck properly. Much of the reverse from the off center strike shows on the obverse, including TED on the cap, TES OF before the face, and wreath sprigs on the head and in the field before the neck. Ample evidence of the obverse is clearly visible on the reverse, including a complete 1795 date where CA in AMERICA should be located. Double struck early half cents are rare, flipover double strikes are even rarer, and ones that show two dates are extremely rare. This piece is plated on page 481 of the Breen half cent encyclopedia to illustrate a flipover double strike error. Weight 77.6 grains. Davy #95.4.3. Estimated Value $400-UP. Ex Bill Weber 4/11/80. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $1,783
Lot 27		1795 C-4 R3 Plain Edge VG10. Beveled Edge Planchet Clip. Glossy chocolate brown with a splash of darker olive and steel toning above the O in OF. Smooth and attractive, the dark splash at OF and a few microscopic contact marks from choice. LDS, Manley state 2.0. The bulge before the portrait is obvious and the die crack from the first T in STATES to the leaf is clear. An irregular planchet clip with a beveled edge is located left of the date and over TAT, but it affects only the dentils leaving the legends untouched. Weight 77.2 grains. Davy #95.4.5. Estimated Value $500-UP. Ex Bowers & Merena 9/14/92:4. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $891
Lot 28		1795 C-5a R3 Plain Edge without Pole on Thin Planchet G5. Flipover Double Strike. Slightly sharper with a planchet void below the 17 of the second strike, as minted, and minor hairline scratches on both sides. Smooth surfaces, free of any trace of corrosion or verdigris. Glossy medium brown and light chocolate. Double struck, and the planchet was flipped over between those strikes. Both strikes were slightly off center causing the planchet to become egg-shaped in the process. Much undertype from the initial strike shows on each side, but only one date is visible. Above Ms Liberty's head on the dated side is a very clear, complete fraction from the other strike. Weight 82.3 grains. Davy #95.5a.4. Estimated Value $600-UP. Ex Harry Jones 8/25/76. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $1,610
Lot 29		1795 C-5b R4 Plain Edge without Pole on Thick Planchet G6. Struck over an Off Center 1795 S-76b Large Cent. Sharpness VG10 but there is an attempted hole at BE in LIBERTY. Otherwise this piece is smooth and very attractive, just some very thin rim cuts on the reverse from choice. Very attractive glossy chocolate brown. LDS. The die crack and swelling on the reverse are strong. This piece was struck over an off center 1795 S-76b large cent, and bold evidence of the cent remains clearly visible on both sides. The cent details are essentially untouched by the half cent dies. That's because the area struck by the cent dies is thinner than the unstruck portion of the planchet, and the half cent dies didn't quite reach the cent details. Apparently the strike pressure used on the large cent was stronger than that used for the half cent. This may be a result of the cent being struck off center so the force employed on that strike was concentrated on only a portion of the planchet thereby squeezing it to a significantly reduced thickness. Regardless, the result is that this piece displays more of the spoiled cent impression than nearly all those known with visible cent undertype and the cent attribution is easy as a result. (Note: Several die varieties of 1795, 1797, 1800, and 1802 half cents are known to have been struck on cut-down planchets of spoiled US large cents or Talbot Allum & Lee Cents, and in a few cases they were struck on copper die trial strikes of 1794 and 1795 half dollars. The mint did this to utilize the rolled copper, which was a scarce commodity. Therefore, because the planchet source was intentional, half cents that display undertype from these previously struck cents or die trials are not "errors" in a technical sense.) Weight 108.3 grains. Davy #95.5b.4. Estimated Value $1,000-UP. Ex Jules Reiver 10/3/85. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $3,565
Lot 30		1795 C-5b R4 Plain Edge without Pole on Thick Planchet VF20. Struck over a Spoiled Large Cent on an Irregular Planchet. Slightly sharper but the surfaces are covered with extremely faint granularity that is mostly offset by the rather glossy light chocolate and olive brown toning. No verdigris, but there are numerous very faint hairline scratches hidden in the toning on the obverse and a planchet chip shows in the dentils at ST in STATES. Struck on an off center large cent of unknown date or variety. Only a strong impression of the cent dentils remains on both sides of the half cent. The half cent planchet was cut from the spoiled large cent in such a manner that the edge of the cent planchet became part of the half cent planchet. As a result, the half cent planchet is not round. This was done to minimize the portion of large cent strike included on the half cent planchet, so the cent edge is positioned at K-2.5 to K-5.5 (across from the cent dentils). May seem like a lot of time and effort to produce a single half cent planchet, but these were real money at the time and planchets were hard to come by. A wonderful early mint error. Weight 112.7 grains. Davy #95.5b.1. Estimated Value $1,000-UP. Ex Stack's 2/4/72:191. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $2,415
Lot 31		1795 C-5b R4 Plain Edge without Pole on Thick Planchet G6. Struck over a Spoiled Large Cent with Off Center Reverse Brockage. Very slightly sharper but there is a small patch of shallow greenish verdigris at the T in CENT and a few faint hairline scratches hidden in the patina on the reverse. Mostly glossy dark olive and steel. The date is very faint, virtually gone, and the legends are mostly visible. Struck on a spoiled large cent with an off center reverse brockage. The normal cent reverse is located on the obverse of the half cent with AM at the top of the cap and several leaves show in the field left of the cap. The incuse reverse brockage impression shows at NITED STATES O on the half cent reverse. Incuse retrograde ITED from the large cent brockage is visible at TES-O and incuse leaves are visible at NITED ST. This piece is plated in Roger Cohen's second edition of his half cent book (page 22). Weight 103.4 grains. Davy #95.5b.7. Estimated Value $300-UP. Ex Jon Hanson-Ray D. Munde-Roger S. Cohen, Jr., Superior 2/2/92:56. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $834
Lot 32		1795 C-5b R4 Plain Edge without Pole on Thick Planchet VG7. Struck over a Spoiled Lettered Edge Large Cent. Very slightly sharper but the planchet is not perfectly smooth and there are some fine hairline scratches in the toning on both sides, mostly on the obverse. The most-notable defects are some very fine parallel planchet striations on the obverse, as struck. Partly glossy steel brown and chocolate with darker chocolate brown toning in protected areas. The date is weak but readable and the legends are nearly complete. Struck on an off center large cent with a lettered edge (which is exceptionally rare). The half cent planchet was cut in a manner to minimize the appearance of the off center large cent, and only the dentils of the large cent show on the obverse of the half cent. In so doing, much of the cent edge was included on the half cent planchet and E HUNDRE from the edge lettering is clearly visible. The edge lettering is of the large style found on the cents of 1794 Sheldon-71 and 1795 Sheldon-76a, plus several others. An unintended consequence of cutting the half cent planchet with part of the cent edge included is that the half cent is oval-shaped rather than round. It appears that mint workers purposely cut these half cent planchets in a manner to minimize the amount of large cent design included on the smaller planchet, and that makes sense since you could only get a single half cent planchet out of each spoiled large cent. But sometimes they went a bit too far to escape the cent design (as on this piece). These errors tell us a lot about how things were done (and screwed up) in the early days of our mint. Weight a hefty 129.5 grains. Davy #95.5b.8. Estimated Value $500-UP. Ex Don Valenziano 7/1/92. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $2,875
Lot 33		1795 C-5b R4 Plain Edge without Pole on Thick Planchet VF20. Struck on a Spoiled Large Cent Planchet. Slightly sharper but covered with tiny planchet chips mixed with microscopic pitmarks scattered over the obverse. These defects are individually insignificant but there are too many to ignore. The best identifying mark is a tiny spot of reddish verdigris at the dentils above the Y in LIBERTY. Glossy light chocolate brown with specks of darker olive brown toning on the reverse. The date is weakly impressed, as usual on the thick planchet strikes of the variety, but it is readable and the legends are clear. Struck on a planchet cut from a spoiled large cent, although there is no visible undertype from the cent on either side. The half cent planchet was cut a bit too close to the edge of the cent planchet leaving a clearly out-of-round half cent. The cent edge remains intact from K-7 to K-10, and it is not lettered. Weight 109.3 grains. Davy #95.5b.6. Estimated Value $800-UP. Ex Chris McCawley 4/27/91. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $2,530
Lot 34		1795 C-6a R2 Plain Edge without Pole on Thin Planchet F12. Off Center over Talbot Allum & Lee (TAL) Cent. Choice glossy light chocolate brown with smooth, virtually flawless surfaces. The only notable mark is a shallow, dark olive planchet void at the base of the L in HALF. LDS, Manley state 2.0, with a subtle bulge near the dentils right of Y in LIBERTY. The date and legends are complete and clear. Struck 5-10% off center to K-10 on a planchet cut from a Talbot Allum & Lee Cent. The TAL undertype is clearly visible at the top of the reverse. A choice example for the grade. Weight 85.0 grains. Davy #95.6a.21. Estimated Value $600-UP. Ex an unrecorded seller at the EAC Convention 3/20/87. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $1,035
Lot 35		1795 C-6a R2 Plain Edge without Pole on Thin Planchet VG7. Off Center. Sharpness F12 but dark and lightly corroded. Slightly glossy dark olive and steel with chocolate brown toning on the high points of the obverse. There are some very faint hairline scratches hidden in the toning on the obverse and specks of raised very dark greenish verdigris scattered over the reverse. The date is weak but readable and the legends are strong. Struck 10% off center to K-10. Weight 77.6 grains. Davy #95.6a.23. Estimated Value $200-UP. Ex Tom Reynolds 4/15/88. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $368
Lot 36		1795 C-6a R2 Plain Edge without Pole on Thin Planchet G4. Off Center. Sharpness VG10 or slightly better but covered with light to moderate roughness, strongest under LIBE. No marks or other distractions. Slightly glossy dark olive and steel, nearly black. The date is weak but readable and the legends are mostly clear. Struck 20% off center to K-10.5. Weight 74.9 grains. Davy #95.6a.50. Estimated Value $200-UP. Ex Doug Bird 4/25/03. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $460
Lot 37		1795 C-6a R2 Plain Edge without Pole on Thin Planchet F15. Double Struck, the Second Strike Off Center. Sharpness VF30 but covered with uniform fine granularity on all but the high points, which are smooth. No verdigris, and the only mark is a tiny pit over the D in UNITED. Partially glossy dark olive brown with light chocolate toning on the devices. Double struck. The initial strike was properly centered but the planchet was partially removed from the press before being struck a second time 20% off center to K-8.5 and rotated about 140 degrees. The result is an error with an impressive look displaying two complete versions of LIBERTY and the fraction. However, neither of the dates is visible. This piece is plated on page 479 in the error ("Whoops") section of Breen's book on half cents. Weight 85.9 grains. Davy #95.6a.5. Estimated Value $1,000-UP. Ex William K. Raymond 12/6/74. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $4,370
Lot 38		1795 C-6a R2 Plain Edge without Pole on Thin Planchet VG7. Double Struck, the Second Strike Slightly Off Center. Glossy chocolate brown and olive. Smooth and attractive for the grade, only trivial contact marks from choice. A very light rim nick over the E in STATES is a good identifying mark. Double struck. The first impression was centered on the planchet and the second was 5-10% off center to K-9. The complete date from the second strike is clearly visible but only the 9 and 5 from the first strike remain visible, and they are weak. The 9 from the first date is hanging down from the 5 of the second date. Some of the first strike is visible on the reverse as well with S OF showing (weakly) above and slightly to the right of the second S OF. Additional evidence of the first strike can be found on the reverse with some effort, but you get the idea. Weight 83.9 grains. Davy #95.6a.48. Estimated Value $500-UP. Ex Don Valenziano 6/12/95. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $863
Lot 39		1795 C-6a R2 Plain Edge without Pole on Thin Planchet F15. Double Struck. Ten points sharper but there is a smoothed rim dent left of the top of the cap. The smoothing was done with excellent skill and could be missed quite easily. The only other mark on smooth, choice surfaces is a tiny rim nick at the L in LIBERTY. Glossy chocolate brown offering excellent eye appeal in spite of the rim bruise. LDS, Manley state 2.0. The subtle bulge near the dentils right of the Y is easily visible. Double struck. Both impressions were slightly off center to K-9, the first one a bit more off target than the second. Evidence of the two strikes is clearest on the bust tip and on the right side of the reverse where AM from the first strike shows under the AM of the second. Additional evidence of the first strike is clearly visible on the reverse. Weight 85.6 grains. Davy #95.6a.19. Estimated Value $800-UP. Ex Tony Terranova 5/9/86. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $1,783
Lot 40		1795 C-6a R2 Plain Edge without Pole on Thin Planchet EF40. Double Struck over Talbot Allum & Lee Cent. Very attractive glossy medium brown with reddish chocolate toning in protected areas and frosty mint luster showing on both sides. The only defect is a speck of carbon in the field at the lips. Double struck on a cut-down TAL cent, and the TAL undertype shows over UNITED. The initial strike was slightly off center to K-5 while the second was centered on the planchet but rotated about 25 degrees CW relative to the first. The 795 of the date from the initial strike shows off the bust tip and LI from that same strike shows clearly on the top of the cap. Much of the legend from the first impression is visible on the reverse as well, including the denominator of the fraction between the second denominator and the adjacent U. Another outstanding half cent error with superb eye appeal. Weight 75.0 grains. Davy #95.6a.2. Estimated Value $3,000-UP. Ex Nate Smith, Stack's 3/9/73:31. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $5,750
Lot 41		1795 C-6a R2 Plain Edge without Pole on Thin Planchet VF20. Double Struck over 1794 Talbot Allum & Lee Cent with NEW YORK. Choice glossy chocolate and steel brown. No notable defects and the eye appeal is excellent for the grade. Undertype from the TAL Cent shows clearly below the date and bust tip and at S-OF, and NEW from NEW YORK shows at OF. This half cent was dramatically double struck. The initial strike was slightly off center to K-10 while the second impression was centered on the planchet and rotated 30 degrees CCW relative to the first. The face of the first strike shows clearly on the head of the second strike creating a remarkable "two-faced" Ms Liberty. The reverse, however, displays no evidence of the double strike. This suggests the reverse was struck against a new blank planchet during the second strike creating a reverse brockage impression on that planchet. (NOTE: It can be difficult to determine whether a double struck piece initially was struck uniface with one side against another blank planchet rather than a die and then struck normally using both dies, or if it was struck with both dies first, then struck uniface with one side impressed against a new blank planchet during the second strike creating an incuse brockage on the new planchet. There are two indicators that can help you determine the sequence of events. First, when a normally struck piece fails to eject from the coining chamber and is struck a second time using a die on one side but into a new blank planchet on the other side, it emerges as a double struck brockage maker. The second strike leaves an incuse brockage impression on the new planchet, and the single-struck side that was pressed into the blank planchet tends to become swollen or "puffy." The swelling is more pronounced if the second impression on the double-struck side is rotated relative to the first strike. The larger the rotation on the double-struck side, the greater the swelling on the single-struck side. Second, the rotation between the double struck and single struck sides can be useful. A brockage maker is first struck normally on both sides, and the orientation of the dies should be "normal" for that variety. If there is enough rotation between impressions on the double-struck side during the second strike, then the sequence of those strikes becomes easier to determine. On a brockage-maker, the single struck side will be aligned with the first strike on the double-struck side. For a piece that was first struck uniface, the single-struck side will be aligned with the second strike on the double-struck side. These indicators are helpful, but determining the exact sequence of events can be quite difficult if not impossible, especially on heavily worn pieces.) EDS, Manley state 1.0. A very attractive error offering a unique "look." Weight 82.9 grains. Davy #95.6a.51. Estimated Value $1,000-UP. Ex Stuart Levine 4/25/03. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $6,613
Lot 42		1795 C-6a R2 Plain Edge without Pole on Thin Planchet F12. Double or Triple Struck over Talbot Allum & Lee Cent. Glossy medium brown and light chocolate with a splash of reddish chocolate toning at CA in AMERICA and traces of darker olive brown toning on both sides. Smooth surfaces showing only a few light contact marks, including a fine hairline scratch at the second S in STATES. Double struck (possibly triple struck as the lower edge of the cap shows clear triple outlines) over a cut-down TAL Cent. The TAL undertype is visible in the dentils right of the Y in LIBERTY and above RICA. Bold doubling shows all around Ms Liberty, HALF CENT, and the wreath with more subtle doubling elsewhere on both sides. Both strikes were fairly well centered on the planchet but they were rotated slightly between impressions. Weight 84.6 grains. Davy #95.6a.25. Estimated Value $400-UP. Ex McLaughlin & Robinson Auctions 2/27/88:18-Chris McCawley 6/23/88. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $1,610
Lot 43		1795 C-6a R2 Plain Edge without Pole on Thin Planchet VG10. Double Struck on 1794 Talbot Allum & Lee Cent with NEW YORK. Five points sharper but there are a half dozen shallow planchet lamination flakes on the obverse, including a large one on the throat and a smaller one in the dentils over the T in LIBERTY. The remainder of the planchet is smooth and the reverse is choice. Glossy chocolate brown with lighter brown toning in the laminated areas on the obverse. Undertype from the TAL Cent shows clearest left of the cap. Double struck, the first strike reasonably well centered on the planchet and the second off 5-10% to K-9 and rotated perhaps 10 degrees relative to the first. Evidence of doubling is obvious on both sides, clearest on the bust and at MER. The 5 from the first strike shows (weakly) right of the date creating a new date reading 17955. Weight 84.1 grains. Davy #95.6a.1. Estimated Value $700-UP. Ex J. L. Brobston, Stack's 6/12/71. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $460
Lot 44		1795 C-6a R2 Plain Edge without Pole on Thin Planchet G6. Flip-Over Triple Strike. Very slightly sharper with a couple dozen very tiny rim cuts around the obverse. The surfaces are smooth and there are no other marks worthy of mention. Slightly glossy dark steel with lighter steel brown high points. The initial strike was 15% off center to K-3 and the second impression was almost properly centered. The third and final strike occurred after the planchet flipped over, and this third strike was positioned 5% off center to K-8. Undertype from two strikes of the reverse die can be found in the right obverse field. UNITED shows near the rim before the portrait and ED from another UNITED is located just off the bust tip. The bust line shows in the dentils above ATES. Additional traces of undertype can be found on both sides with extra effort. A neat multiple-error strike. Weight 78.9 grains. Davy #95.6a.17. Estimated Value $300-UP. Ex Ron Guth 9/4/82. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $460
Lot 45		1795 C-6a R2 Plain Edge without Pole on Thin Planchet VG8. Flip-Over Double Strike. Sharpness F12 with very fine granularity covering the planchet. No verdigris, but there are fine hairline scratches hidden in the patina on both sides and a mint-made planchet chip at the rim over N in UNITED. Dark olive brown with lighter steel brown and chocolate toning on the high points. Boldly double struck. The first impression was 10% off center to K-4. The planchet was then flipped over and struck slightly off center to K-9. The date does not show on either side, but there is ample bold undertype visible on both sides, including a complete fraction below the bust tip. A dramatic example of the flip-over double strike type of mint error, and it is plated on page 481 in the Breen encyclopedia for that very reason. EDS, Manley state 1.0. Weight 76.9 grains. Davy #95.6a.4. Estimated Value $600-UP. Ex William K. Raymond 3/17/75. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $1,668
Lot 46		1795 C-6a R2 Plain Edge without Pole on Thin Planchet VG7. Flip-Over Double Strike on 1794 Talbot Allum & Lee Cent with NEW YORK. Glossy steel brown and chocolate. Smooth and free of notable defects. The initial impression was slightly off center to K-10 and the second was properly centered after the planchet was flipped over. MERICA and the fraction from the first strike are visible below the bust and in the left obverse field. TY from LIBERTY of the initial strike shows clearly at D-S on the reverse. Very little evidence of the TAL Cent undertype remains visible, but ORK from NEW YORK is faintly visible at OF. Another excellent example of this type of multiple error strike. Weight 81.4 grains. Davy #95.6a.29. Estimated Value $500-UP. Ex Pete Boisvert 10/22/90. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $1,495
Lot 47		1795 C-6a R2 Plain Edge without Pole on Thin Planchet VF30. Oval-Shaped Planchet. Slightly sharper with a dull rim nick off the chin and a faint scuff of very fine scratches arcing through the top of the cap. Otherwise this cent is smooth and quite attractive offering outstanding eye appeal. Choice glossy chocolate and steel brown. The planchet is oval or egg-shaped (perhaps a rugby football?), but there is no trace of undertype from a cut-down planchet on either side (the out-of-round planchet shape usually indicates a larger planchet was cut down to the smaller half cent size). Plated on page 470 in the Breen book to illustrate what he calls an "Oval Clip." We could argue about the terminology, but the "coolness" of this piece is not in question. EDS, Manley state 1.0. Weight 78.4 grains. Davy #95.6a.9. Estimated Value $2,000-UP. Ex Kagin's 1977 ANA Sale, 8/23/77:4462. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $4,140
Lot 48		1795 C-6a R2 Plain Edge without Pole on Thin Planchet F15. Chatter Strike Slightly Off Center on a Talbot Allum & Lee Cent. Five points sharper but there are specks of reddish verdigris near the dentils before the face, a corroded area on the rim over ES in STATES, a spot of reddish verdigris below the L in LIBERTY, and another left of the U in UNITED. The remainder of the planchet is smooth and the only significant contact mark is a light scratch arcing through the base of the 1 in the date. Struck slightly off center to K-9.5 with fine doubling on the right edges of the letters of LIBERTY (caused by die bounce). The planchet was cut from a TAL Cent and undertype shows in the dentils before the nose. The half cent planchet was cut too close to the edge of the TAL Cent and "TH" from the edge lettering is clearly visible on the edge of the half cent right of the Y in LIBERTY. The "TH" is from "THE" which could be from a 1794 TAL Cent (edge lettered "PAYABLE AT THE STORE OF") or from the 1795 version (edge lettered "WE PROMISE TO PAY THE BEARER ONE CENT"). Weight 80.2 grains. Davy #95.6a.35. Estimated Value $700-UP. Ex Bowers & Merena 9/14/92:15. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $805
Lot 49		1795 C-6a R2 Plain Edge without Pole on Thin Planchet F12. Struck on a 1794 Talbot Allum & Lee Cent with Edge Device Showing. Glossy chocolate brown. The only mark is a dusting of very fine crud at the top of UN in UNITED. Excellent eye appeal for the grade, just a few trivial marks from choice. Struck on a planchet cut too close to the edge of a TAL Cent. The resulting half cent planchet is clearly not round and much of the ornamental edge device from the 1794 TAL shows on the half cent. Another neat "error" from this remarkable collection. Weight 86.4 grains. Davy #95.6a.43. Estimated Value $800-UP. Ex Doug Bird 3/30/01. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $1,208
Lot 50		1795 C-6a R2 Plain Edge without Pole on Thin Planchet VG10. Struck on a 1794 Talbot Allum & Lee Cent with Edge Letters Showing. Slightly sharper but there are a few dull contact marks hidden in the curls and near the edge on the left side of the obverse, plus a couple more at the U and D in UNITED. Otherwise the surfaces are smooth and attractive, free of any significant defects. Glossy chocolate and steel. Undertype from a 1794 TAL Cent is visible on both sides, and YORK shows weakly at the base of the cap. The half cent planchet is not perfectly round thanks to being cut too close to the edge of the TAL, and a couple letters of the TAL edge lettering show on the half cent over ST in STATES. The letters may be "RE" from STORE (PAYABLE AT THE STORE OF). Weight 79.6 grains. Davy #95.6a.38. Estimated Value $500-UP. Ex Tom Reynolds 4/22/94. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $529

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