Numismatics

16-1. 1787 Fugio Newman 1-B.

Raw. Judged AG 3. W-6600. Breen 1302. Rarity 4. Small old hole  at about 6 o’clock, probably for suspension on charm bracelet or  pendant, through “ne” of “Mind Your Business.” A venerable  example of this scarce “Cross After Date, United States” Red Book  variety, with much visual interest. Its obverse was used for both  circulation strikes and patterns, such as the famous American  Congress, now a mega-dollar coin. The reverse die saw use only for  this variety. Obverse marbled with delicate milk chocolate and dark  coffee patination; date, ends of numerous sunrays and other  devices legible. Reverse toned in topaz, fine granularity under  magnification, some characteristic planchet flaws, but all letters of  “United States” legible to various degrees. A charming example of  an interesting variety that is relatively costly, even in lower grades.  With its white 2x2 holder c. 1967 (at that time considered a Rarity  6). “All Cross After Date varieties are in strong demand due to their  distinctive style and their listing in the Red Book”--Whitman  Encyclopedia of Colonial and Early American Coins, Bowers.  Closeup color photographs of obverse and reverse of all coins on website and furnished by e-  mail. $190-250

16-2. 1787 Fugio Newman 13-X.

2013 ANACS AU 50. W-6855. Rarity 2.  “Double clip,” one an extremely shallow  bite between about 10:15 to 10:45  o’clock. Impressed curved line on  reverse between 3 and 4, touching two  rings, possibly a stray clip mark, else a  handsome example, with sharp  definition and a bronze-like tone.  Probably from Bank of N.Y. hoard. With  its white 2x2 holder c. 1967. Whitman Encyclopedia (Bowers) c.v. 4000.00. $1200-1400

16-3. 1787 Fugio Newman 17-S.

2013 ANACS VF 20 details. W-6935.  “Corroded,” an extremely light and  intermittent microfine granulation, else  with much original gloss, good gross  definition, and flattering mahogany  coloration with currency-green cast. Not  mentioned on label, what appears to be a  minute beveled clip between about 7:30  and 8 o’clock, seen on obverse only, and presumably a planchet imperfection. In all, an  interesting example of this variety. With its white 2x2 holder c. 1967, at that time considered  Rarity 7; all early American coins in this section have been off the market since then. Fugios  were “the first coins issued by authority of the United States...”--Official Red Book. Whitman  Encyclopedia (Bowers) c.v. 1800.00. $425-575

16-4. 1787 Fugio Newman 21-I.

2013 ANACS AG 3. Rarity 5. Warm caramel toning. Several depressions, possibly  planchet flaws, in central portion of obverse, one on reverse, but sufficient  definition to permit attribution of this rather scarce variety, noted for its  sometimes dramatic clash marks, and a perfectly suitable entry example. With its  white 2x2 holder c. 1967. $80-120

16-5. Fugio New Haven “Restrike.”

2013 ANACS EF 45 details. Newman 104-FF. W-17560. Yellow bronze.  “Corroded,” the obverse with tortoise shell effect, reverse with verdigris bleu-  cheese spotting, but the underlying coin a vivacious reddish tone, the whole with  character and appeal. With its white 2x2 holder c. 1967. One tale is that these  were struck from “old dies found by 14-year-old C. Wylls Betts in 1858 on the site  of the Broom & Platt store in New Haven, where the original coins were made”--  Official Red Book. Bowers states mintage 500. $275-350 

16-6. 1787 Nova Eborac – with Brasher Association.

Historically fascinating New York coinage of the year of the Constitution. 2013  ANACS VF 35 details. “Corroded.” W-5755. Breen 986. Seated figure facing left.  Golden olive brown, with surprisingly lustrous highlights. Small pit in hair on  obverse, another in a letter on reverse, uniform granularity with the aspect of an  ancient rather than colonial, but in all, a charming example. With its yellow 2x2  holder c. 1967, with old price 85.00. A private New York issues of 1787, one of the  others being ... Brasher’s doubloon. Indeed, noted numismatist Anthony  Terranova “discovered punch link evidence associating these coppers to the  Brasher doubloons, and Breen has shown them to be stylistically similar to coins  by Brasher and Bailey...It has long been thought the small head Nova Eborac was an independent work produced at a different location.  Recently, (Gary) Trugden used punch evidence to show all issues were prepared by a single engraver, whom he identified as John  Bailey, working in or near New York City.”--coins.nd.edu. Extensive scholarship has been published on the Nova Eborac. $900-1400 

16-7. Washington Success Medal, Original Silvered Surface.

2013 ANACS AU 50 details, attributed as “1792-95.” W-10900. Baker 265. Breen  1286. “Damaged,” with three small-diameter counterpunch craters at top, on  head, forehead, and smooth field; verso undisturbed. Brass. Large. Reeded edge.  First die, with original silvering, characterized as “rare” by Red Book, variously  darkened or worn around lettering, else imparting a soft olde-world patina, with  hints of purplish undertone. A must for the Washington completist. With its  white 2x2 holder c. 1967. $1700-2400

16-8. Washington Large Military Bust.

2013 ANACS VF 35, attributed as “1793.” W-10240, Vlack 10-G. Rich art-bronze  tone. One mark on reverse between olive branch and head, else the superficial  scratches only detectable under magnification, and a rewarding example. With its  yellow 2x2 holder c. 1967, with old price 65.00. Whitman Encyclopedia (Bowers)  c.v. 475.00 (EF-40). $225-275

16-9. 1794 Cent.

2013 ANACS EF 40 details. “Corroded.” S-57. B-55. “Button on cap” variety.  Head of ‘94. Only moderate granularity to the unaided eye, the date very good,  just a touch of irresolution at bottom hook of “9.” Else a complex darkest brown,  infused with gunmetal and a hint of diffuse sunset red playing on the glossy  surfaces. Off the market since about 1960s. $3750-4250

16-10. 1806 Quarter.

2013 ANACS G 4 details. B-8. “Bent,” to a degree insufficient to be perceived  when photographed. Portion of “1” of date appear nearly smooth, but contours of  its upper half discernable under magnification, balance of date bold, suggesting  an uneven strike. Portions of most lines of shield on reverse still present; better-  than-good details remain of hair and contours of bust’s eyes, nose, and mouth.  Light purplish overtone both sides, giving an electric effect. A highly satisfactory -  and intensely interesting example of an otherwise costly coin, arguably superior  to others of the same grade. Off the market since about 1960s. $250-300 

16-11. 1809 Half Cent.

Rotated dies. 2013 ANACS AU 50. Obverse with notably sophisticated, uniform  mahogany tone, with smooth surfaces and reflective devices. $275-325 

16-12. 1833 Half Cent.

2013 ANACS AU 50 details. Old cleaning. Soft brassy olive brown, bands of  paler toning around periphery, else a pleasing example. $100-130 

16-13. 1853 Half Cent.

2013 ANACS AU 50 details. Old cleaning. Satiny golden devices rising from  multi-tone surfaces, with pleasing crisp appearance. Some fine nicks on neck  under magnification, else very satisfactory. $85-125

16-14. 1861 Quarter.

2013 ANACS AU 58. Seated Liberty. An arrestingly attractive example, with  airbrush-like puffs of smoky topaz toning around some stars and rim beads,  else hints of semi-matte cartwheels, with considerable visual interest. $240-  290

16-15. 1861-O Half.

2013 ANACS VF 30 details. WB-101. “Rim dings,” essentially limited to five  points in saddle between rim and dentils beneath date, two points at 12 o’clock,  and few on reverse, only significant under magnification. Still a handsome coin,  the soft silvery devices backlit by uniform grey-mink fields. A mint mark with a  fateful history: “The 1861-O quantity includes 330,000 struck under the U.S.  government, 1,240,000 for the State of Louisiana after it seceded from the  Union, and 962,633 after Louisiana joined the Confederate States. As all these  1861-O coins were struck from U.S. dies, it is impossible to distinguish one from  another”--Official Red Book.... $115-135

16-16. 1924 Huguenot Commemorative Half.

2013 ANACS MS 65. “Huguenot Walloon Tercentenary, 1624-1924 / Founding  of New Netherland.” Oxidation speckling mostly behind “States of...,” honey-  colored tarnish spot between hats of Gaspard de Coligny and William I of  Orange, and in lower hemisphere of lettering on reverse. Else an evocative  example, with pink-orange overtone. $300-350 

16-17. 1933-D Oregon Trail Commemorative Half.

2013 ANACS MS 66. Interesting example, the subtle sculpting of surfaces (no  longer seen in modern computer-designed coinage) imparting complex  reflections, with palest citrine and rose flashes. Tiny oxidation specks in lower  portion of reverse, else a high-condition specimen. $480-540 

16-18. 1934 Texas Commemorative Half.

2013 ANACS MS 66. Superb first-year example retaining the quality of an art  medal, rather than commercial coinage. “The Texas Independence Centennial -  Remember the Alamo - 1836-1936.” Tiny oxidation specks on few relief areas  of obverse, else luxurious, bottomless luster, with pink-gold flashes at three of  five points of Texas star. $575-675

16-19. 1936 Lynchburg Commemorative Half.

2013 ANACS MS 64. Lynchburg Sesquicentennial; (Sen.) Carter Glass on  obverse. Light contact marks and tiny depressions in field to left of lips, and  two on shoulder, else attractive, with rather fascinating hint of lime and palest  gold on obverse and reverse, respectively. $285-350

16-20. Unrecorded Variant of Cotton Exposition Medal.

Attractive So-Called Dollar commemorating World’s Industrial & Cotton  Exposition, New Orleans, 1884-85, probably copper. HK-unlisted thusly. NGC MS 64 BN, older slab. Obverse: “The Worlds  Exposition...,” with globe in sky over vast exhibition hall, flags flying, as HK-143. (The main building was the world’s largest roofed  structure, illuminated with 5,000 electric lights.) Reverse: “Reunion of Mexican War Veteran at N.O. 1846-7,” hands clasped over  crossed rifles with fixed bayonets, eagle above. The Exposition was timed as the centennial of the earliest recorded export of cotton  from America to England. Some fine nicks in field and rim, else considerable electric lustre highlighting warm coffee brown devices.  Only a white metal variety recorded, stated “very rare to extremely rare”--socalleddollar.com. This copper/brass example perhaps the  lone survivor. Ex-Spink. $225-275

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