LOT Old Heritage Auctions  /  2008 February Long Beach Signature Coin #460  / 

2121

1797 1C Reverse of 1795, Plain Edge. VF35 PCGS.

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / US Coins Start Price:850.00 USD Estimated At:1.00 - 1,000,000.00 USD
1797 1C Reverse of 1795, Plain Edge. VF35 PCGS.
<B>1797 1C Reverse of 1795, Plain Edge. VF35 PCGS. S-120a, B-2a, R.3. </B></I> <B>Noyes VF20; tied for CC-10. Photo #59260. Our EAC Grade VF20.<BR><BR>Equivalents.</B></I> Proskey 3; Doughty 94; McGirk 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D; Clapp-Newcomb 2; EAC 2a; <I>Encyclopedia</B></I> 1700; PCGS #1419.<BR><B><BR>Variety. </B></I>Wide date, 97 close. Reverse of 1795. The obverse appears on S-120a and S-120b. The reverse appears on 1796 S-90, 1797 S-120, S-121, and NC-1. Plain Edge.<BR><B><BR>Surfaces. </B></I>A jumbo example on a larger than normal flan, 29.4.mm and 168.2 grains. The surfaces are smooth and attractive with a trace of microscopic porosity. Medium olive with lighter orange-brown color, probably cleaned and recolored. Imperfectly centered with a wide border to the right, narrow to the left.<BR><B><BR>Die State I. </B></I>Perfect dies with no cracks or bulges.<BR><B><BR>Appearances. </B></I>The obverse and reverse are illustrated in Noyes (2007).<BR><B><BR>Census.</B></I> A single Mint State example is known, with one or two AU pieces. The roster drops quickly through the XF grades and down to the VF level. Two of the top 10 are ANS coins, placing this example in a tie for eighth best available to collectors.<BR><B><BR>Commentary.</B></I> The so-called Plain Edge cents, S-120a and S-121a, are better described as Beaded Edge coins, with elongated beads or pellets around most or all of the circumference. Several different edge styles are known for the 1797 and 1798 cents, providing additional clues for the study of emission sequences. Breen attempted to relate the edge styles to planchet sources, although there seems to be little solid evidence. He wrote in his <I>Large Cent Encyclopedia</B></I>: "The theoretical goal for 1794-1814 cents is to identify unambiguously each type of planchet used on any variety; if possible naming its source, inclusive dates of manufacture, and sometimes even the aggregate mintage of varieties from distinguishable planchet shipments."<BR><BR><B>Provenance.</B></I> <I>Heritage (1/1998), lot 5042; Dr. Wallace Lee; Superior (5/2003), lot 416, $2,415.</B></I><BR><BR><B>Personality.</B></I> A dentist who was born in Pontiac, Michigan, in 1929, <B>Dr. Wallace Lee</B></I> practiced for 35 years until his retirement in 1994. He began collecting coins in 1962 and became interested in large cents through purchase of pieces at auction with the goal of a date set. His collection was sold by Superior in May 1993.<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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