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Sale 8
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Lot 266
1794 Liberty Cap Cent. Starred reverse. Sheldon-48, Rarity-5. Fifth Finest Known. . S-48. PCGS graded VF-30 and Del Bland graded VF-20. Medium dark chocolate brown with traces of microscopic porosity scattered around the obverse, a horizontal pin scratch far below C in CENT and an edge dent between O and F. Perfectly centered and sharply struck, all the stars boldly visible. This variety, the most famous of the entire large cent series, is clearly the highlight of this sale. It is the fifth finest known, fourth finest available to collectors as one of the examples graded VF-25 is in the ANS collection and is permanently off the market. Another example graded VF-30 is very sharp, but has serious defects making the piece offered here more desirable. The condition census is as follows:
1). VF-35 (formerly graded EF-40) John W. Adams-Bowers and Ruddy Galleries, FPL, 1982:43
2). VF-30 (EF-45 but with planchet defects and edge dents), Garrett--Johns Hopkins University
3). VF-25 ANS Collection
4). VF-25 Jackman--Sheldon--R.E. Naftzger, Jr.
5). The coin offered here
6). F-15 Dorothy Paschal Collection
7). F-15 Dr. French:29--T. James Clark
Two more at F-12
Years may come and go before a similar specimen is offered. Long time collectors may remember when the spectacular Adams specimen was offered in 1982, at that time the economy was in deep recession, and most collectors could not scrape together much money for their collections. Unless you had a huge reserve fund for "special" coins that appear infrequently, and could write a substantial check, that would be another opportunity lost. Today, in 2001 the economy is in much better shape, many collectors have substantial investments aside from their collections, and more numismatists are able to afford such a coin. Owning such a piece will put your collection squarely on the map with the great collections of the past, and future. Of course, rarity and quality of this magnitude will not come cheap, it never does, good market, bad market, quality always sells for a premium.
It appears that the ninety four tiny stars were engraved in the reverse die before the dentils. Some of the stars are covered over by the dentils, and if the stars were added later, they likely would have been placed between the dentils. Much speculation has been written and discussed as to why the stars are there. No answer or theory has proven definitive on the matter. What is clear to all, is that these ninety four tiny stars embody all the charm and charisma that make collecting early coppers one of the most popular and spiritually rewarding pursuits in numismatics.
Estimated Value $60,000-UP.
Ex: Samuel A. Bispham; S. H. Chapman 2/1880:162; John W. Hazeltine collection; John W. Hazeltine 3/1881:771: C.T. Whitman; S. H. and H. Chapman 8/1893:826; Dr. Thomas Hall 9/7/09; Virgil M. Brand, 1934; Armin W. Brand; New Netherlands Coin Co. #34 10/51:579; Willard C. Blaisdell 9/74; Del Bland 1/2/85; Jack H. Robinson; Superior Galleries 1/89:84: Douglas F. Bird.
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| Realized $66,125 |
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