Rarity: Common

Variety Equivalents: Breen 1862

Notes:
No Proofs are known of this variety, although Wright discusses one claimant that was revealed to be an early strike, not a Proof (this is most likely the one referred to by Breen as "ex Reed, Holland, Merkin").

This obverse die of this variety was also used on 1835 Newcomb 19.  The doubling in the die of the first five stars indicates that they were either individually strengthened or the entire obverse was double-hubbed.  If the latter, were true, this would be the first American "Double Die", beating the 1838 Newcomb 12 by three years and any other denomination by six (the 1841 Quarter Dollar).

The was the only use of the reverse die.

Late die states of this variety have a buckled and rusted reverse that is so unlike the early states that Newcomb thought they were a completely different variety, calling it 1835 Newcomb 17.

Images courtesy of John D. Wright

Recent appearances:
NGC MS-62 Brown.  Ex - Bowers & Merena Galleries' "The Lake Geneva Sale", June 28-29, 2001, Lot 67, "Head of 1836", not illustrated, sold for $299.00

Del Bland graded AU-50.  Ex - Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc.'s "Benson Collection, Part I", February 16, 18-20, 2001, lot 488, illustrated, where it was described as follows: "Head of 1836. Newcomb-7, Rarity-1 (old Newcomb-17)…With a tiny planchet defect on the cheek. Medium chocolate brown with faint reddish tones and a darker spot between star five and the denticles. There are two very small nicks over star thirteen, otherwise the surfaces are just about flawless. Heavily rusted dies, some stars double lined. Fairly well struck for this later die state, the planchet defect on the face may actually be a small ding from circulation. Ex: Dr. George P. French 3/21/29; B. Max Mehl F.P.L., 1929:549 $12; T. James Clarke, 1944; B. Max Mehl, privately 7/9/45 at $12.", sold for $276.00

PCGS graded AU-50 and Del Bland graded VF-25.  Ex - Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc.'s "Benson Collection, Part I", February 16, 18-20, 2001, lot 489, illustrated, where it was described as follows: "Head of 1836, triple profile. Newcomb-7¾, Rarity-1… At the coronet line above I in LIBERTY is a tiny nick, at the lower front line of the neck is another one, between stars eleven and twelve is a short scratch and over F in OF four denticles have been scraped. Medium brown. Very heavy triple profile on the chin, light tripling on the upper lips, double on the lower lip and on stars five to thirteen. The scrape on the denticles is well hidden by the holder, and apparently minor. Excellent color and surfaces for type. Ex: James G. Macallister 6/6/44 at $3.50.", sold for $149.00

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

E-mail correspondence from Henry Hettger, February 22, 2000

Relevant collector organizations:
Early American Coppers Club