Lot 273
1794 S-37 R6+ F15. Mostly glossy medium chocolate brown and olive with the details of a solid VF20+ grade. The cent is attractive, especially for this very rare variety, but the surfaces are not perfectly smooth. Microscopic roughness covers the fields and protected areas on both sides, and there are some faint hairlines hidden in the toning. There is no verdigris and the only significant mark is a rim bruise at the top of the cap. EDS, Breen state I, from the perfect state of the obverse die. The date and legends are complete and strong. Graded VF20 net F15 and tied for CC#3 honors in the Bland/Breen condition census. Noyes says VF20 net VG10 and tied for CC#4, his photo #20435. This very important cent comes with a great provenance, the second oldest pedigree after the discovery coin that resides in the permanent collection of the American Numismatic Society in New York. And it also comes with a wonderful story. Dan Holmes owned this cent from 1989 to 2005, and it was a highlight of his famous collection (sold in our 9/6/2009 auction). But in 2005 Dan was offered the comparable S-37 that had once been in the Tom Morley collection. Although Dan preferred his old example (the cent offered here), he wanted a nice 1794 with the Tom Morley collection provenance. He decided to buy the Morley coin to get the pedigree, even though the granular two-tone Morley coin was slightly inferior in his opinion (an opinion shared by your cataloger who was present when Dan made his decision). As Dan Holmes often said, these cents are worth only a penny. It's the story that goes with them that makes them valuable. And now Dan has become part of the story attached to this cent. Estimate Value $40,000 - UP
Ex Arthur Sargent 1910-Samuel H. Chapman (privately)-Howard R. Newcomb, J. C. Morgenthau & Co. 2/7/1945:74-Barney Bluestone-Charles J. DuPont (Anderson DuPont Sale), Stack's 9/24/1954:53-Dorothy I. Paschal 12/1973-Denis Loring 12/1973-Dr. Edward R. Bush 12/1977-Denis Loring 5/7/1983-Jack H. Robinson, Superior 1/29/1989:61-Daniel W. Holmes, Jr. 6/2005-McCawley & Grellman 8 2005-Chuck Heck Collection (includes the Paschal, Loring, Robinson and Holmes collection envelopes and the Robinson lot ticket).
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| Realized $117,500 |
