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2068

1794 1C Head of '94. VF35 PCGS. S-66, B-58, High

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / US Coins Start Price:3,750.00 USD Estimated At:1.00 - 1,000,000.00 USD
1794 1C Head of '94. VF35 PCGS. S-66, B-58, High
<B>1794 1C Head of '94. VF35 PCGS. S-66, B-58, High R.5.</B></I> <B>Bland VF25; CC-1. Noyes VF25; tied for CC-1. Photo #21046. Our EAC Grade VF25.<BR><BR>Equivalents. </B></I>Maris 31 (Distant 1); Frossard 26; Doughty 51; Hays 44; McGirk 4-F; Ross 27-DD; Chapman 52; EAC 56; <I>Encyclopedia </B></I>1667; PCGS #901374.<BR><B><BR>Variety. </B></I>Date extremely wide, usually cracked at pole. Double leaf below OF; top terminal leaf bent upwards. The obverse appears on S-66. The reverse appears on S-66, S-67, S-68, and S-69. Lettered Edge, leaf points up.<BR><B><BR>Surfaces. </B></I>A wonderful example of the variety. In addition to its status as the finest known, it is also an aesthetically pleasing coin. The surfaces are intermingled tan and dark brown, and free from defects. Slight verdigris adheres to the surfaces, and the usual tiny handling marks are present, but there are no significant problems on either side.<BR><B><BR>Die State IV.</B></I> The terminal die state for the variety. The obverse has three prominent die cracks. That from the border to the bottom edge of the pole now continues well into Liberty's neck, almost reaching the hair below the ear. A branch extends to the left, through the lower part of the bust and the field over the date, finally through the lower locks into the field. A third crack curves down through the right obverse field from the forehead, nearly reaching the border at chin level. What resembles a fourth crack, curving behind the hair curls, is actually a clash mark.<BR><BR><B>Appearances. </B></I>The obverse and reverse are illustrated in Chapman, in Breen's <I>Complete Encyclopedia,</B></I> in Noyes (1991 and 2006), and in Boka. The obverse is illustrated in <I>Early American Cents</B></I> and<I> Penny Whimsy</B></I>.<BR><BR><B>Census. </B></I>The Husak specimen is the finest of this well-known variety, and one of just two or three pieces considered fully VF. Slightly more than 30 examples are known today, although just 50 years ago it was still considered an R.7 die combination. Only about 10 coins were known when <I>Penny Whimsy</B></I> was published.<BR><BR><B>Commentary. </B></I>This is the famous "Split Pole" variety, so-called because of the die crack that develops in Die State II, parallel to the pole, giving it the famous doubled or split appearance. Walter Breen took exception to the name, writing: "Entirely aside from the actual location of the crack, this nickname hardly fits the uncracked die state." While Breen's comments are true, the reality is that collectors know the variety by the nickname, and know that they have a rarity when they see this famous die crack on an unattributed 1794 cent.<BR><BR><B>Provenance. </B></I><I>Ebenezer Gilbert; Dr. George French (B. Max Mehl, 1929 FPL), lot 71, $200; T. James Clarke (1944); B. Max Mehl (1944); Dr. William H. Sheldon (4/1972); R.E. Naftzger, Jr. (2/1992); Eric Streiner (4/1992); Dr. Allen Bennett (1/2000).</B></I><BR><BR><B>Personality. B. Max Mehl</B></I> was born in Lithuania in 1884 and died in Fort Worth, Texas, on September 27, 1957. He and his wife had two daughters. Mehl was a coin dealer and auctioneer operating out of Fort Worth, and is credited with fantastic and innovative promotion of coin collecting. For example, he was the first to use radio in his advertising. He probably did more to advance the hobby during the first half of the 20th century than any other individual. He conducted 120 auctions from 1903 to 1955, including many of the most important collections sold during those years. Most of his auctions were actually mail bid sales. His <I>Star Rare Coin Encyclopedia</B></I>, published in more than 50 editions, was an innovative promotional technique.<BR><BR><b>Shipping:</b> Coins & Currency (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.heritageauctions.com/common/shipping.php">view shipping information</a>)
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