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Images courtesy of John
D. Wright
Recent appearances:
Notes:
The 1834 Large Cent Proof in the "King of Siam"
Presentation Proof Set (which included an 1804 Silver Dollar) was a
Newcomb 3 variety, creating a few innovations to excite later numismatic
researchers. First, the Newcomb 3 Proofs were not struck until at
least November 1834, when the State Department requested sets of coins
for presentation to dignitaries in the Far East. Second, this was
the first appearance of what Wright calls the "embattled, or
two-tiered" rim (this type of rim did not re-appear until 1836,
when a modified version became the standard). Finally, the reverse
was the first, contemporary use of a hub that contained all of the
design elements instead of being incomplete.
Wright noted that
"Nine or ten Proofs are known from these dies, more with the faint
obverse crack than without." Breen wrote that "The dozen
or so Proofs were made in Nov. 1834...some business strikes followed in
1835.
According to Wright, the
emission sequence for this variety was in the following order:
1. Proofs for the
presentation sets and a few circulation strikes were made from unbroken
dies.
2. The obverse was then paired with a different reverse to create
the 1834 Newcomb 4 variety until
the reverse rusted and broke and the obverse cracked.
3. The cracked obverse was then re-united with the original 1834
Newcomb 3 reverse for more Proofs and many circulation strikes.
Perfect obverse Proofs
include the King of Siam, Smithsonian, and Clarke coins, according to
Wright. He lists the Newcomb, Sawicki, and other coins among those
Proofs with a broken obverse.
As mentioned earlier, the
obverse die of this variety was later used on 1834
Newcomb 4.
This was the only use of
the reverse die.
Sources and/or
recommended reading:
"The
Cent Book 1816-1839" by John D. Wright
"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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