Lot 302
1804 C-13 R1 Plain 4 without Stems VF20. Controversial Die State. Five points sharper but there is a light circular scratch hidden in the hair left of the earlobe. Otherwise the surfaces are smooth and attractive, void of any roughness or other defects. Glossy olive and chocolate brown. M-LDS, Manley state 2.0 late. The dentils on the obverse are mostly gone but many dentils remain visible on the reverse. The arcing die line in the field behind the portrait remains clear. This is a normal example but it created a minor dust-up between Roger Cohen and Walter Breen (certainly not the only disagreement between these two half cent titans). Walter decided there was a rim cud break over ICA and he used this same coin to establish what he called die state IV in his half cent encyclopedia (page 250). Roger (correctly in my opinion) decided there was no rim cud at ICA on this piece. But this coin (Ruby I:237) carries a special cache since it was specifically mentioned by Breen in his encyclopedia. Roger, in his usual understated style, added "The rim break is BS!!" on his collection envelope. This envelope, the earlier Ruby auction envelope, and the Cohen lot ticket are included with the coin. Another small piece of our colorful collecting history. Davy #04.13.34.
Estimated Value $200-UP.
Ex C. French's 5/2/1952-Dr. Charles S. Ruby, Superior 2/11/1974:237-Roger S. Cohen, Jr., Superior 2/2/1992:211.
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| Realized $322 |
