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Ten Piece 1843 Proof Set PR62 to PR64 NGC. Accomp

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / US Coins Start Price:450,000.00 USD Estimated At:1.00 - 1,000,000.00 USD
Ten Piece 1843 Proof Set PR62 to PR64 NGC. Accomp
<B>Ten Piece 1843 Proof Set PR62 to PR64 NGC. Accompanied by Original Case.</B></I> This is one of just two complete 1843 Proof Sets that exist, to the best of our knowledge. The other set was offered by David Akers in his October 1997 sale of the John Jay Pittman Collection. A third set is located at the Smithsonian Institution, however, that set lacks the half eagle, which was either lost or traded away.<BR><BR> Although not included here, the cased sets of the 1840s originally included a card, printed by Manly & Orr, Philadelphia printers, listing each of the individual coins at face value, along with an additional $3.085 for the case, for a total of $22.50. An example of such a card is depicted in the aforementioned Pittman catalog on page 180. This is important in that it suggests that these sets were, in fact, offered for sale to the earliest coin collectors, rather than for presentation purposes.<BR><BR> <B>Confused Pedigrees</B></I><BR> In his <I>Encyclopedia of United States and Colonial Proof Coins,</B></I> Walter Breen recorded the existence of just two proof sets of 1843. The first is the Smithsonian set, originally from the Mint Cabinet, but now missing the half eagle as mentioned above. The other set listed by Breen is the Carter set, which he recorded in his 1977 reference as part of a New York State Specialists collection (Pittman). Of course, seven years later in 1984, the Carter set appeared in the sale of the Amon Carter Collection by Stack's.<BR><BR> It is now known that the Carter set and the Pittman set are two different sets, each in a case variously described as the original case of issue. The Amon Carter set previously appeared for sale in 1947 as part of the Will W. Neil Collection sale held in June of that year by B. Max Mehl. Prior to the Mehl auction (actually a mail bid sale as were all of B. Max Mehl's sales), this set appeared for sale in the auction of the Fernand David Collection which was sold in Amsterdam in 1930. It seems likely that the Carter set has been intact and together since the time of issue over 160 years ago. <BR><BR> The Pittman set, does not have the same prestige. John Jay Pittman acquired the gold coins at a different time and from a different source as the non-gold Proofs, yet it is likely that his coins were also issued together. In 1895, the Chapman Brothers offered a complete 1843 Proof Set in their sale of the Richard Winsor Collection, that set reportedly a presentation set from President John Tyler. It is almost certain that the Tyler-Winsor set is the same as either the Carter or Pittman sets.<BR><BR> <B>Past Offerings</B></I><BR> This 1843 Cased Proof Set previously appeared in the Will W. Neil Collection sold by B. Max Mehl in June 1947. In that catalog, Mehl illustrated the entire set as it appeared within its case, and continued to describe each individual coin, finally discussing the history as he knew it:<BR><BR> "This magnificent and excessively rare Proof Set, as stated before, is in the original Mint Case as issued in 1843. We can readily understand the infinitesimal number of proofs struck at the Mint over one hundred years ago. I know of but one other similar set. The Set here offered originally came from a famous Collection sold at auction in Amsterdam, Holland, some twenty years ago. I had my European representative purchase it for me. I sold it to Mr. Stoddard of Pasadena, California. Later, to be exact, in 1932, when I purchased the Stoddard Collection, this Set was in turn sold by me to the late Colonel E.H.R. Green. After the passing of the Colonel, I acquired this Set indirectly, and again sold it to Mr. Neil. This is the first time this beautiful and exceedingly rare Set is offered at auction in this country. I consider it the most outstanding and desirable item in this Great Collection."<BR><BR> In the Neil Sale, only 10 other items sold for the same or more than this set, which realized $1,250.00. Those other items included a Mint State 1794 Silver Dollar, the Idler 1804 Silver Dollar, an 1870-S Silver Dollar, an 1838-O Half Dollar, an 1827 Original Quarter Dollar, an 1876-CC Twenty-Cent Piece, an 1894-S Dime, a set of four Stellas, a complete five-piece set of Panama-Pacific coins, and a 1913 Liberty Nickel. This set had remarkable company in the Neil Collection.<BR><BR> Thirty-seven years later, Stack's offered this same set in their January 1984 sale of the extensive and impressive Amon G. Carter, Jr. Family Collection. Little new information was provided in that catalog.<BR><BR> <B>The Individual Coins</B></I><BR> <B>1843 Half Cent: Original. PR62 BN NGC.</B></I> Breen-1. Large Berries in the wreath. Perhaps as many as 20 examples of the 1843 Original Proof Half Cent survive. The digit 8 in the date is visibly repunched below. Sharply struck with lightly reflective fields. Both sides exhibit natural medium brown color with faint lilac, blue, and iridescent toning. Some minor surface marks are noted on each side. On the obverse, a small saucer-shaped depression on the edge of Liberty's neck just below her throat will serve as a pedigree-marker. On the reverse, a faint black "10" appears inside the wreath above HALF. Someone attempted to diminish the appearance of this old India ink figure by faintly scratching the surface, although this does not seriously affect the overall appearance. Mehl described this as "a sharp struck proof with even brilliant olive iridescent surface. Broad borders with wire edge." Stack's noted: "Brilliant Proof, olive and iridescent toning. Faint trace of an India ink #10 on the reverse."<BR><BR> <B>1843 Cent: PR64 BN NGC.</B></I> Newcomb-14. Perhaps 15 examples of this Proof-only variety are known. This is a delightful Proof example with natural dark brown and iridescent surfaces, along with considerable original orange luster. The surfaces are lightly reflective and not as deeply mirrored as on some other Proofs. It is sharply struck with every detail on the obverse and the reverse fully defined. It is not bluntly struck as some other examples of this variety (including the upcoming Reiver coin which has very weak design details). A small depression is seen at the center of the neck, just below the jaw line, and directly below the ear lobe. The obverse has a curved lint mark in the field directly above the digit 1, about half way to the jaw. Mehl called this "an iridescent red and olive proof." Stack's inexplicably described this coin as "Uncirculated, polished and recolored, however the coin still exhibits natural prooflike surface." This is unquestionably a Proof example.<BR><BR> <B>1843 Half Dime: PR64 NGC.</B></I> The entire date is sharply recut and shows evidence of being triple-punched. This is a different obverse than the Valentine-6a Doubled Date variety listed by Al Blythe in <I>The Complete Guide to Liberty Seated Half Dimes.</B></I> Walter Breen described this as "Breen-7" in his Proof Encyclopedia. The digits 184 are clearly tripled while the digit 3 is quadrupled. Breen suggested a total Proof popul