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Images courtesy of Ron Guth
Known examples (7):
1. Fine 12, obverse
scratch. The Overton Specimen. Discovered by Walter Breen in
the Philip Straus collection in 1951. After Straus died, Stack's sold
portions of his collection, completely overlooking the importance of this
unique piece. Lot 1866 of Stack's May 1-3, 1959 Metr. N.Y. Conv.
Sale reads, in its entirety: "1806 Obverse B 13, Reverse A (sic -
Beistle reverse "A" appears on the Overton-109, not
Overton-108.) Unlisted combination. Round top 6.
Strictly Fine and very rare. Price realized - $36!" The
coin was privately held until 1970 when plated, catalogued (by Breen) and
offered by New Netherlands Coin Co., June 30, 1970, lot 369 as "just
Fine." The coin went to a mail bidder. The winner was a
local college student. When he received the coin from New
Netherlands, he got "cold feet." He had just spent an
enormous sum - for the time, and especially, to him - for a coin that had
just been listed in the Red Book. He called Charles Wormser and
obtained permission to rescind his purchase. Wormser was not
happy. "Now I'll have to put the coin on the market, " he
said. In fact, he called Al Overton and arranged a quick sale.
To Donald Parsley upon Overton's death in February 1972. To the
purchaser of the Overton collection in July 1993.
2. VF-30, wiped. The
Munson Specimen. Identified by Oklahoma dealer Charles Raymond Ross in
1965. Ross did not know he held the Holy Grail of Draped Bust half
dollars. He sold his find to specialist Pat Munson on February 17,
1966 for $85! Thin die break across the top of United. Sold to
dealer Larry Briggs in the Superior Galleries October, 1989 sale, lot 462,
sold for $50,600; thereafter to a collector by Private Treaty.
3. Fine 12. The
Schertz/Meyer Specimen. Late die state, exhibiting a heavy cud along
the reverse rim, through the upper serifs of UNITE. Discovered in
the mid-1970s by vest-pocket dealer Harry Bernstein of Brooklyn, NY.
Sold privately to Dr. Jeffrey Friedman, a noted student and collector of
the series, in July 1979. Friedman sold the coin to Dr. Gerald
Schertz, on April 1, 1985. In 1996, Schertz consigned the piece to
Sheridan Downey, who sold it to Charlton Meyer.
4. VG-10. The
Frederick Specimen. Discovered in Hawaii in December 1976 by a
mainland dealer. Promptly resold in January 1977, to noted
dealer-collector Donald Frederick. Late die state, comparable to the
Schertz/Meyer specimen.
5. PCGS XF-40 (formerly
ANACS VF-30). The El
Paso Specimen. Reportedly found in El Paso, TX; purchased
unattributed in 1979 for $375. The coin popped up in 2002 in Florida and was
sold to the present consignor through one or two intermediaries. No
die crack across the top of UNITED; softly struck on the tip of the bust
and on the upper right reverse.
6. Fine-12/VG-10. The
Pennsylvania Specimen. In 1984 a 6th example surfaced at a
Pennsylvania coin show. Examined, attributed and appraised by a
specialist with impeccable credentials who called it a "no problem
coin." The owner preferred to remain anonymous and was not
heard from until 1997 when the coin was again displayed to a (different)
Pennsylvania dealer.
7. PCGS VF-35, without
problems. The Greer/Schertz Specimen. Early die state,
comparable to the preceding Munson specimen (thin die break across top of
UNITED). Light gray toning, somewhat darker through stars and
legend. Ubiquitous (striking) weakness at drapery lines and Clouds
opposite. Discovered by Brian Greer January 4, 1995 during the FUN
Show in Orlando, Florida. Immediately sold to Sheridan Downey, who
resold the piece to Dr. Gerald Schertz. Dr. Schertz the coin to
Sheridan Downey, who sold the coin to a private collector for an
undisclosed sum.
Sources and/or recommended
reading:
Pedigree information
courtesy of Sheridan
Downey
"Early
Half Dollar Die Varieties 1794-1836", Third Edition, by Al C.
Overton (purchase a copy by clicking on the title)
"The PCGS Population
Report, July 2003" by The Professional Coin Grading Service
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