LOT Old Heritage Auctions  /  2008 Jan. FUN Signature Coin Auction #454  / 

3023

1844 H10C PR67 NGC

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / US Coins Start Price:32,500.00 USD Estimated At:1.00 - 1,000,000.00 USD
1844 H10C PR67 NGC
<B>1844 H10C PR67 NGC.</B></I> Ex: Pittman-Kaufman. The 1844 proof half dime in the Phil Kaufman cabinet is the finest certified specimen certified by NGC or PCGS. It is pedigreed to the John Jay Pittman Collection sold by David Akers Numismatics, Inc., October 21-23, 1997. <BR><BR>The Pittman coin was part of an 1844 proof set "in the original case of issue." In his description of the piece, Akers says: "In Proof, this issue is a great rarity; only 6-8 proofs are known to exist." NGC and PCGS have certified a total of 13 specimens (of course, some of these are likely resubmissions). The former service has seen a PR63, four PR64s, two PR65s, and a PR67, the Pittman-Kaufman piece <I>finest certified</B></I>. PCGS has graded two PR62 coins, a PR63, a PR65 Cameo, and a PR66. Out of 13 certified submissions, we are only able to track down five different coins that have been graded by these two services.<BR><BR> The 1844 proof half dime is thought by some to consist of four varieties, though there is no universal agreement on this. The appropriate Valentine numbers and abbreviated descriptions are:<BR><BR>Valentine-1. Normal date placed high, slanting down to the right.<BR>Valentine-2. Normal low date.<BR>Valentine-3. Repunched 184.<BR>Valentine-4. Repunched date, different than V-3.<BR><BR>The following 1844 proof half dime roster is categorized by Valentine numbers:<BR><BR><B>Valentine-1<BR><BR>1. PR67 NGC.</B></I> Numismatic Gallery (4/1948); John Jay Pittman (David Akers, 10/1997), lot 833; <B>Philip Kaufman</B></I>. Part of Pittman's 1844 proof set. The Seated silver coins have been kept intact by Phil Kaufman.<BR><BR><B>2. PR64 NGC.</B></I> Lester Merkin (4/1966), lot 77; 1971 ANA (Stack's), lot 622; Stack's (8/1973); Norweb Collection (Bowers and Merena, 10/1987), lot 337; Bowers (3/1998), lot 503.<BR><B><BR>3. PR65 NGC.</B></I> American Numismatic Rarities (9/2003), lot 218; Stack's (1/2007), lot 366; Stack's (3/2007), lot 498.<BR><BR><B>4. PR64 NGC.</B></I> New England (3/1977), lot 43; Richmond Collection (David Lawrence, 3/2005), lot 1085; Heritage (4/2006), lot 372; Heritage (6/2006), lot 24135; Heritage (7/2006), lot 23196; Heritage (8/2006), lot 24273; Stack's (8/2007), lot 410.<BR><BR><B>5. Proof.</B></I> Smithsonian Institution.<BR><BR><B><I>Additional Appearances</B></I></B></I>: <BR><BR><B>A. Proof. </B></I>Stack's (4/1978), lot 435.<BR><BR><B>B. Proof.</B></I> F.C.C. Boyd, World's Greatest Collection (Numismatic Gallery, 1/1945), lot 234. Not plated.<BR><BR><B>Valentine-2</B></I><BR><BR>Probably not struck in proof, despite several pieces listed in Breen's <I>Proof Encyclopedia</B></I>. The Eliasberg specimen is clearly not a proof. The May 1952 David Bullowa specimen has not been seen, nor has lot 235 in the World's Greatest Collection sale. The Lester Merkin April 1966 coin that Breen recorded as V-2 turned up in the Norweb Collection, and is an example of V-1.<BR><B><BR>Valentine-3<BR><BR>6. PR65 Cameo PCGS.</B></I> Harlan P. Smith (S.H. and H. Chapman, 5/1906); John M. Clapp; Clapp Estate (1942); Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr.; Eliasberg Estate (Bowers and Merena, 5/1996), lot 960; Superior (1/2004), lot 173; Heritage (6/2004), lot 6036; Heritage (8/2004), lot 5642; Heritage (9/2004), lot 11644; Heritage (2/2005), lot 6156, Heritage (3/2005), lot 23182.<BR><B><BR>7. Proof.</B></I> American Numismatic Society.<BR><BR><B>Not in Valentine, called V-4 today.<BR><BR>8. Proof</B></I>. New Netherlands Coin Co. (51st Sale, 6/1958), lot 558. Not plated<BR><BR><B><I>Additional Appearance</B></I></B></I>: <BR><BR><B>C. Proof.</B></I> Pine Tree (2/1975), lot 122. Described as a "Marked Gem Proof." The coin is plated actual size. These two pieces may be the same.<BR><BR> The fully mirrored fields of the remarkable Superb Gem that we offer in this lot yield impressive contrast with the mildly frosted motifs, especially when the coin is rotated under a light source. Moreover, beautiful cobalt-blue and reddish-gold toning adorns both sides, and a powerful strike results in sharp delineation on all of the design elements. The surfaces are impeccably preserved, heightening even more the coin's outstanding beauty. A tiny as-made planchet depression beneath the I in DIME and a faint linear mark between the stem and the last A in AMERICA serve to identify this particular piece. A simply amazing example of this rare proof.<BR><I>From The Phil Kaufman Collection of Early Seated Proof Sets, Part Two.</B></I><BR><BR><B>Coin Engraver:</B> Christian Gobrecht<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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