Lot 108
1794 S-66 R5+. VF-25. Plated in Chapman, Breen, Noyes, Penny Whimsy, and Early American Cents. Attractive glossy medium brown and light chocolate with darker chocolate brown toning in protected areas. The surfaces are perfectly smooth everywhere except in the field around LIBERTY, where traces of extremely fine roughness are partially hidden under the attractive glossy toning. The only marks are a couple small, shallow planchet flakes at the L in LIBERTY, a pair of faint hairline scratches across the top of the cap, and a barely visible rim nick just left of the fraction. Otherwise this cent is choice, and the eye appeal remains excellent. Terminal die state, Breen state IV, with the "Split Pole" crack bold plus an additional die crack arcing from the forehead into the field where it fades out as it nears the dentils opposite the chin. Called VF25 and finest known in the Del Bland/Walter Breen condition census. Noyes says VF35 net VF25 and tied for CC#1 honors with one other piece, his photo #21046. Removed from a PCGS slab graded VF35 (PCGS label included, and it shows the attribution and Husak provenance). Plated in Chapman, Early American Cents (obverse only), Penny Whimsy (obverse only), Breen’s Complete Encyclopedia, and in the Noyes book. PCGS Population 1; The only one graded at PCGS for the variety. DWH #3475.
Estimated Value $35,000-UP.
Ex Ebenezer Gilbert-Dr. George P. French (this was Dr. French’s favorite coin, and he carried it with him to show to his friends at ANA Conventions) 3/21/29-B. Max Mehl FPL 1929:71-T. James Clarke 1944-B. Max Mehl 1944-Dr. William H. Sheldon 4/19/92-R. E. Naftzger, Jr. 2/23/92-Eric Streiner 4/4/92-Dr. Allen Bennett 1/2000-Walter Husak, Heritage 2/15/08:2068.
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| Realized $55,200 |
