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2097

1796 1C Draped Bust, Reverse of 1795. XF45

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / US Coins Start Price:3,250.00 USD Estimated At:1.00 - 1,000,000.00 USD
1796 1C Draped Bust, Reverse of 1795. XF45
<B>1796 1C Draped Bust, Reverse of 1795. XF45 Details, Corroded, Cleaned, ANACS. S-96, B-32, R.6.</B></I> <B>Bland Fine 12; tied for CC-1. Noyes Fine 12; tied for CC-1. Photo #20516. Our EAC Grade Fine 12.<BR><BR>Equivalents.</B></I> Gilbert 36; Clapp-Newcomb 29; EAC 32; <I>Encyclopedia</B></I> 1690; PCGS #1401.<BR><B><BR>Variety.</B></I> Hyphen die chip between 7 and 9. Reverse of 1795. Triplet below first A in AMERICA. The obverse appears on S-93, S-94, S-95, S-96, NC-2, and NC-3. The reverse appears on S-96.<BR><B><BR>Surfaces.</B></I> Smooth, deep steel-brown or ebony surfaces with traces of maroon patina close to the devices on each side. Microscopic underlying porosity is evident on each side, only under close inspection. Perhaps lightly burnished as suggested by Bland, although the characteristic glossy appearance of a coin treated in that manner is not obvious.<BR><B><BR>Die State I. </B></I>An early die state, with traces of failure at the tops of ER, but no other die imperfections on either side.<BR><B><BR>Appearances. </B></I>The obverse and reverse are illustrated in Noyes (1991).<BR><B><BR>Census.</B></I> From the splendid collection of Wes Rasmussen, this coin is tied with one other example for finest known.<BR><B><BR>Commentary.</B></I> The S-96 is a very rare and valuable early copper. It is the second rarest Sheldon-numbered Draped Bust variety after 1801 S-217. Only 24 pieces are currently known, with this piece at the top of the Condition Census. This rare variety was first described by Ebenezer Gilbert in his reference on the 1796 cents as his number 36. Only eight examples were known to Sheldon in 1958, including two in the ANS Collection.<BR><B><BR>Provenance</B></I><B><I>.</B></I></B></I><I> William F. Sunday; Christian M. Petersen; Hollinbeck Coin Co. (10/1953), lot 282, $660; Dr. William H. Sheldon (4/1972); R.E. Naftzger, Jr. (2/1992); Eric Streiner (12/1993); Wes Rasmussen (Heritage, 1/2005), lot 3109, $17,250.</B></I><BR><B><BR>Personality.</B></I> <B>William F. Sunday</B></I> served a handful of terms on the American Numismatic Association governing council and acted as the auctioneer for the association's 1931 convention in Cincinnati. In his <I>Encyclopedia of United States Half Cents</B></I>, Walter Breen includes him in an uncomplimentary footnote, describing him as someone who tooled, polished, re-engraved, and removed corrosion from large cents.<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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