Eric P. Newman Collection, Part IX (Envelopes)

1809 1C S-280, B-1, R.2, AU55 NGC. Breen Die State IV, showing a single die crack from the E in STATES to the leaves below. An attractive example of the intermediate die state, this Choice AU piece exhibits glossy olive-brown surfaces with an uneven strike that is bold at the lower right obverse and weak at the upper left obverse. Stars 3 through 7 are mostly absent, and UNIT is partially readable. A few scattered marks are evident on each side, but the overall presentation is far finer than usual for this Classic Head issue. Our EAC grade XF45. Ex: "Colonel" E.H.R. Green; Green Estate; Partnership of Eric P. Newman / B.G. Johnson d.b.a. St. Louis Stamp and Coin Co.; Eric P. Newman @ $25.00; Eric P. Newman Numismatic Education Society.

Heritage Newman IX, November 2017, lot 15070, realized $6600. Images and description courtesy of Heritage Auctions.

1800 1C S-212, B-20, R.3 -- Obv Scratched -- NGC Details. Unc. Breen Die State III, an intermediate die state before the appearance of obverse die cracks. This impressive piece exhibits strong cartwheel luster on its tan and dark olive-brown surfaces, with traces of mint red in the protected areas on each side. The right obverse field and the left reverse field between the D in UNITED and S in STATES exhibit well-blended old scratches that are only visible in certain angles. William Noyes grades this piece MS60 sharpness, net 40, and we agree with his assessment. Only two examples in the Noyes Condition Census have Mint State sharpness, and the other one is finest known with a net grade of AU50. Our EAC grade XF40. Ex: "Colonel" E.H.R. Green; Green Estate; Partnership of Eric P. Newman / B.G. Johnson d.b.a. St. Louis Stamp and Coin Co.; Eric P. Newman @ $35.00; Eric P. Newman Numismatic Education Society. Possibly earlier from the E.W. Ropes Collection (New York Coin and Stamp Co., 2/1899), lot 49.

Heritage Newman IX, November 2017, lot 15069, realized $3360. Images and description courtesy of Heritage Auctions.

1799/8 1C S-188, B-2, R.4, Good 6 NGC. CAC. Breen Die State II, showing faint clash marks on the obverse. Our EAC grade is commensurate with the NGC grade, this piece grading VG8 on the obverse and Good 4 on the reverse. LIBERTY is bold while the bottoms of the date digits lightly merge into the border. Most of the legend letters on the reverse merge with the border. The light steel-brown surfaces are exceptionally smooth and pleasing, especially for the low numerical grade. A Choice designation is intuitive. Ex: "Colonel" E.H.R. Green; Green Estate; Partnership of Eric P. Newman / B.G. Johnson d.b.a. St. Louis Stamp and Coin Co.; Eric P. Newman @ $50.00; Eric P. Newman Numismatic Education Society.

Heritage Newman IX, November 2017, lot 15068, realized $11400. Images and description courtesy of Heritage Auctions.

1795 1C Lettered Edge, S-75, B-3, R.3, XF40 NGC. Breen Die State II, with the obverse crack from the border to the right side of the 9 extremely light, and with nearly imperceptible clash marks on the reverse. Rarity ratings suggest that less than one thousand 1795 Lettered Edge cents survive, and nearly half of those are examples of S-75. This variety is an ideal choice for Guide Book collectors who seek a single example of the 1795 Lettered Edge type. Faint hairlines on each side suggest that this piece has been cleaned and recolored, but expertly so. The surfaces are reddish-brown and chocolate with outstanding eye appeal. Our EAC grade VF25. Ex: "Colonel" E.H.R. Green; Green Estate; Partnership of Eric P. Newman / B.G. Johnson d.b.a. St. Louis Stamp and Coin Co.; Eric P. Newman @ $15.00; Eric P. Newman Numismatic Education Society.

Heritage Newman IX, November 2017, lot 15067, realized $4440. Images and description courtesy of Heritage Auctions.

1793 1C Wreath, Lettered Edge, S-11c, B-16c, Low R.3, AU55 NGC. CAC. Breen Die State II. The Chain cents and most of the Wreath cents had a Vine and Bars edge consisting of vertical groves interspersed with vines that the late George E. Ewing, Jr. identified as cotton leaves and balls of cotton; however, this cataloger suggests they may have been strawberry vines. Near the end of Wreath cent production in July 1793, the edge device was changed to the first Lettered Edge with ONE HUNDRED FOR A DOLLAR followed by two leaves, and then the second Lettered Edge with the same inscription followed by a single leaf. The Lettered Edge type continued for all of the 1793 and 1794 Liberty Cap cents, and the earliest 1795 cents. Careful study of die states of the Lettered Edge Wreath cents reveals that the planchets were lettered before the coins were struck. We know this as examples of the two different edge types appear in all the documented die states for the die pair. Clash marks are visible below Liberty's chin. This lovely Choice AU Wreath cent is minutely off-center with the obverse border tight from 4 o'clock to 7 o'clock, and the reverse beads off the flan from 1 o'clock to 4 o'clock. The surfaces exhibit intermingled chocolate and olive-brown with faint verdigris, minimal handling marks, and a line of planchet lamination on the reverse through the ES in STATES to the first A in AMERICA. Although not recorded in the Bland Census, this piece would be tied for seventh finest in that list. Bill Noyes grades the coin VF20 and tied for 18th best in his roster. Our EAC grade VF30. Ex: "Colonel" E.H.R. Green; Green Estate; Partnership of Eric P. Newman / B.G. Johnson d.b.a. St. Louis Stamp and Coin Co.; Eric P. Newman @ $90.00; Eric P. Newman Numismatic Education Society.

Heritage Newman IX, November 2017, lot 15066, realized $48000. Images and description courtesy of Heritage Auctions.

1793 1C Chain, AMERI., S-1, B-1, R.4, XF45 NGC. CAC. Breen Die State III. When Congress passed the Mint Act of April 2, 1792, authorized denominations ranged from the half cent to the eagle. Silver coins entered circulation in late 1794 due to unmet bond requirements stipulated in that legislation. The first gold coins appeared in the summer of 1795. Copper coins were the only production of the Philadelphia Mint for its first 19 months of operation from March 1793 through September 1794. Shortly after the Mint Act passed Congress, David Rittenhouse accepted President Washington's appointment as the Mint Director, and he immediately set about with preparations for the new facility. Copper and silver pattern coins were minted in 1792, although some of those pieces, such as the 1792 half dismes, were produced outside of the physical Mint building. After meeting the challenge of a copper supply, all was ready for production toward the end of the first quarter, 1793. Mint officers purchased more than 6,000 pounds of copper from October to December 1792, and that copper was refined to remove impurities. The Mint delivered 36,103 cents from March 1 through March 12, 1793, using four obverse dies and two reverse dies. Those first copper coins were the Chain cents, and a careful study of die states, or the changing condition of the dies through use, proves that the Chain AMERI. cents were the first ones produced at the end of February. Henry Voight was the chief coiner at the time, and worked with his staff to produce these coins. This intermediate die state example has a small obverse die bulge through the 1 of the date, and another small bulge on the reverse over the U in UNITED. Faint clash marks are noted below the bust. There is no evidence of a die crack or rim break at TATE. The smooth tan and chocolate-brown surfaces exhibit myriad handling marks, but no spots or corrosion. This exceptionally attractive Chain cent should garner spirited bidding. Our EAC grade VF30. Ex: "Colonel" E.H.R. Green; Green Estate; Partnership of Eric P. Newman / B.G. Johnson d.b.a. St. Louis Stamp and Coin Co.; Eric P. Newman @ $30.00; Eric P. Newman Numismatic Education Society.

Heritage Newman IX, November 2017, lot 15065, realized $132000. Images and description courtesy of Heritage Auctions.

(1795) PENNY Washington Liberty & Security Penny, Plain Rims, "Asylum" Edge, Baker-30, W-11050, Musante GW-45, R.2, MS62 Brown NGC. Die alignment: 190?. A lovely piece, at the high end of the condition census for these contemporary Washington tokens struck during his presidency. The "Asylum" designation refers to the edge lettering that reads: AN ASYLUM FOR THE OPPRESS'D OF ALL NATIONS. Beautiful bronze surfaces with pleasing red undertones and a crisp strike lend this example strong eye appeal. A couple of small nicks between the bust and the initial G of GEORGE are the only abrasions worth mentioning, and they are hardly distracting. The adjustment marks visible on the rims are artifacts of the production process. Struck from polished dies. These British-made tokens have been popular since their creation, and have been collected in Great Britain as part of the Conder token series in addition to having more obvious appeal to collectors here in the U.S. Only two pieces have been graded higher by NGC (7/17). Listed on page 86 of the 2018 Guide Book. Ex: Eric P. Newman Numismatic Education Society.

Heritage Newman IX, November 2017, lot 15055, realized $8400. Images and description courtesy of Heritage Auctions.

1786 COPPER Vermont Copper, Baby Head, RR-9, Bressett 7-F, W-2040, R.3, VF25 NGC. Die alignment: 180?. A well-centered and firmly struck example of this unusual single-variety type. The planchet quality is above average for these, with only a couple of minor voids on the obverse. While the reverse bears some striations that are more serious, they do not affect the legends and only graze the 6 of the date. The coin is a dappled golden-brown and retains some fine detail including the obverse figure's hair. A rim nick near 6 o'clock obverse and 12 o'clock reverse is the only serious flaw. This example shows a colon after ET on the reverse while some known pieces show only a period. Listed on page 74 of the 2018 Guide Book. Ex: "Colonel" E.H.R. Green; Eric P. Newman and Burdette G. Johnson; Eric P. Newman Numismatic Education Society.

Heritage Newman IX, November 2017, lot 15050, realized $7200. Images and description courtesy of Heritage Auctions.

1788 NJERSY New Jersey Copper, Head Left, Maris 50-f, W-5475, R.3, VF20 NGC. Die alignment: 180?. Good coloration and a strong obverse distinguish this example of the famous Head Left type. A bit of planchet roughness over VA C and to the right of the date are noted, but not distracting. The center of the reverse die was failing when this piece was struck, with the entire side being soft and the initial E of the legend indistinct. The Maris 50-f is a popular choice for type collectors as it is the most readily available of the three Head Left varieties and because die sinking in the obverse fields causes the distinctive head to be accentuated, providing a bold view of the type's defining trait. Only a few examples of this variety exist above Very Fine. Listed on page 73 of the 2018 Guide Book. Ex: Eric P. Newman Numismatic Education Society.

Heritage Newman IX, November 2017, lot 15049, realized $2880. Images and description courtesy of Heritage Auctions.

1788 1/2 P Georgivs III, Machin's Mills Halfpenny, Vlack 23-88A, W-8100, R.2, MS63 Brown NGC. 138.3 grains. Die alignment: 180?. A well-centered, high-grade example of the only Machin's Mills variety dated 1788 that is not considered a Vermont or Connecticut copper. The piece bears an attractive light-to-medium brown patina that is consistent over the coin, becoming just a trifle darker over and to the right of Britannia's head. The strike is a bit soft, most obviously at the obverse periphery. Original surfaces and a lack of any marks worth mentioning make for an exceptional choice for a type, date, or variety set. One of only two 1788-dated Machin's Mills halfpence graded MS63 by NGC, with none graded higher. Listed on page 69 of the 2018 Guide Book. Ex: Eric P. Newman Numismatic Education Society.

Heritage Newman IX, November 2017, lot 15045, realized $10200. Images and description courtesy of Heritage Auctions.