1797 LARGE CENT -
SHELDON 132
Rarity: Rare |
Images courtesy of Superior
Galleries
Significant examples:
"VF-20" (illustrated above).
Superior "Pre-Long Beach Sale", 06/2000:154, where
it was described as follows:
"1797 S-132 R5+ VF20 Stemless Wreath At least 10 points sharper with
a few light rim bruises, mostly on the reverse, a pair of dull nicks on the
forehead, a short, light scratch in the field at the chin, and a thin nick in
the field under the hair ribbon. The planchet is reasonably smooth, but there is
some reddish chocolate crud in several protected areas and a bit of very light
verdigris in the wreath left of the C in CENT. Slightly glossy medium brown and
reddish chocolate. Sharply struck LDS with dentil crumbling at IC in AMERICA.
Graded VF30 net VF20 tied for CC#3 by Noyes, VF35 net VF25 CC#3 by Bland. A
sharp example of this rare Stemless variety, and nearly all the nice ones have
significant defects.
Ex Harmer Rooke Numismatics, Ltd., 11/7/70-C. Douglas Smith-Dr. Robert A.
Schuman."
Recent appearances:
Fine-12 (illustrated below).
Superior
Galleries' "Pre-Long Beach Sale", 06/2000:155, "S-132,
Rarity-5+, Stemless Reverse. Sharpness VF20 with a trio of rim
bruises on each side, strongest behind the lowest curls. In addition, there is a
dull rim nick right of the date, a tiny dig at the dentils opposite the mouth,
and a small void in the planchet at the dentils under the fraction. Glossy
medium brown and olive. The date and legends are bold and the stemless feature
clear. LDS with a rim cud at RIC in AMERICA. A difficult variety to find nice.
Listed as net F15 tied for CC#6 in the Noyes census, net VF20 tied for CC#4 in
the Bland census. Perhaps the F12 assessment is a bit harsh, but that's my final
answer.
Ex John P. Young-M.H. Bolender #181, 9/1951:94-Willard C.
Blaisdell-Del
Bland-Richard H. Wright-Valley Plaza Coins FPL #1, Fall 1976:177- Bowers &
Ruddy 10/6/77:789-Louis Ullian."
Fine-12. Ex - Bowers & Merena Galleries' "The Cabinet of
Lucien M. LaRiviere, Part II", March 15-17, 2001, Lot 2458, "Stemless"
sold for $1,035.00
Sources and/or
recommended reading:
"Penny Whimsy" by Dr. William H. Sheldon
"Walter Breen's
Complete Encyclopedia of U.S. and Colonial Coins" by Walter Breen
Relevant collector
organizations:
Early American Coppers Club
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