#1 PCGS AU58BN
Charles I. Bushnell. As "Uncirculated." "The Lorin G. Parmelee Collection," Samuel Hudson & Henry Chapman, June 20, 1882, Lot 2621; George W. Cogan; "The Richard B. Winsor Collection," Samuel Hudson & Henry Chapman, December 16, 1895, Lot 839 - $15.50; Charles Steigerwalt; Dr. Thomas Hall, September 7, 1909; Virgil M. Brand. As "About Extremely Fine." New Netherlands Coin Co., October 5, 1951, Lot 611- $30; Raymond Gallo, October 1960. As "About Uncirculated 50." "The R.E. "Ted" Naftzger, Jr. Collection," New Netherlands Coin Co., November 14, 1973, Lot 393; Del Bland; C. Douglas Smith; Del Bland, November 20, 1984. As PCGS AU58BN #37577040. "The Douglas F. Bird Collection," Goldberg Auctioneers, February 16, 2020, Lot 23 - $22,800; "The Collections of Walter J. Husak and The Liberty Cap Foundation," Heritage Auctions, January 4, 2024, Lot 2066 - $26,400; Hendy Woods. S-72. Die State III. |
#2 PCGS AU55BN
Thomas D. Reynolds, purchased the coin at the Bay State Coin Show, November 2005. As PCGS AU55 #32777402. "The Thomas D. Reynolds Collection," Goldberg Auctioneers, February 1, 2016, Lot 49 - $17,625; Terry S. Denman. S-72. Die State V. |
#2 PCGS AU55BN
S-72. |
#4 PCGS AU53BN
Virgil M. Brand, February 1941; B.G. Johnson. As "AU50, with some claims to MS60." “The Homer Downing Collection,” New Netherlands Coin Company, August 18. 1952, Lot 1702 – $82.50. As "At least EF40." “The Elliot Landau Collection,” New Netherlands Coin Company, December 1958, Lot 110 – $140; Dorothy Nelson. As "Fully EF-45." "The TAD Collection of U.S. Large Cents (Nelson)," Stack’s, February 1976, Lot 19 – $900. As "EF40." “The Jesse Iskowitz Collection,” Steve Ivy Numismatic Auctions, August 12, 1983, Lot 1160 – $2,200. As "Extremely Fine 45." “The Robert Matthews Collection,” Superior, May 30, 1989, Lot 206 – $11,000; Dr. Allen Bennett, January 1998. As PCGS AU53BN #13470601. “The Walter J. Husak Collection,” Heritage Auctions, February 15, 2008, Lot 2074 – $43,125; Daniel W. Trollan. S-72. Die State IV. HD filled with Downing's yellow ink. |
#4 PCGS AU53BN
Henry C. Hines. As "Very Fine." Barney Bluestone, February 28, 1948, Lot 741; Willard C. Blaisdell, February 1, 1971; Dr. Edward R. Bush; Denis W. Loring, August 6, 1974; Dr. Rober Shalowitz; Del Bland; Denis W. Loring. As "Very Fine 35." "The Jack H. Robinson Collection," Superior Galleries, January 29, 1989, Lot 130. As "VF30." "The Gary Ruttenberg Sale of United States Half Cents and Large Cents, Part II," McCawley & Grellman Auctions, August 17, 1996, Lot 103; Jack Wadlington, June 30, 2005. As PCGS AU53BN #13291631. "The Dan Holmes Collection," Goldberg Auctioneers, September 6, 2009, Lot 116 - $13,000. S-72. Die State III. Reverse rotated 15 degrees. |
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#4 PCGS AU53BN
American Numismatic Rarities, December 2003, Lot 2339; Thomas D. Reynolds. As "EF40." Superior, May 2005, Lot 1218; March Wells, Jr. As "EF40." Goldberg Auctioneers, February 2009, Lot 552 - $9,775. PCGS MS62. "The Dr. Haig Koshkarian Collection," Goldberg Auctioneers, February 2017, Lot 12 - $14,687.50; Chris Victor-McCawley. As PCGS AU53BN #36088628. "The Daniel W. Trollan Collection," Goldberg Auctioneers, January 2019, Lot 206 - $14,400; Heritage Auctions, April 26, 2020, Lot 3634 - $11,400. S-72. Die State III. |
#4 PCGS AU53BN
John G. Wood; Denis W. Loring, July 1985; Thomas D. Reynolds; Bowers and Merena, November 1994, Lot 2031 - $2,420; Anthony J. Terranova. As "About Uncirculated 55." Stack's, November 29, 1995, Lot 1024 - $3,300; Anthony J. Terranova, March 1996; Walter J. Husak and Jack Schultz, October 1996; Walter J. Husak; Chris Victor-McCawley, August 2001; Steven A. Nomura. As PCGS AU53BN #38415370. "The Bellevue Collection (Nomura)," Heritage Auctions, January 12, 2020, Lot 3119 - $18,000; Allen G. Ross. S-72. Die State V. |
#8 PCGS AU50BN
As "Uncirculated." "The Lotus Sullivan Collection," French’s Mail Bid Sale, April 1947, Lot 374 - $27.50; Lotus Sullivan. As "Uncirculated." "1948 ANA Convention Sale," Frank J. Katan, Milford Coin & Stamp Co., August 26, 1948, Lot 1006 - $40; Kenneth W. Fuller; Empire Coin Co. Fixed Price List, August-September 1961 - $275; unknown intermediaries. As "About Uncirculated 55." "1967 ANA Convention Sale," Paramount International Coin Corp., August 10, 1967 Lot 2208 - $575; Wayne Patrali, September 9, 1967; R.E. "Ted" Naftzger, Jr.; unknown intermediaries; Chris Victor-McCawley, August 6, 2009; Greg Hannigan, August 15, 2009; Adam Mervis. As NGC AU53BN #2038604-024. "The Adam Mervis Collection of Large Cents," Heritage Auctions, January 10, 2014, Lot 2516 - $9,693.75; Chris Victor-McCawley, June 27, 2014. As PCGS AU50BN #35500338. "The Mark D. Cadden Collection," Goldberg Auctioneers, September 13, 2020, Lot 58 - $13,800; Walter J. Husak; Heritage Auctions, May 9, 2024, Lot 3824 – $10,200. S-72. Die State III. |
The Sheldon 72 (#35699) is the final collectible die marriage of 1794 Liberty Cap Cents, and the first to use a die punch that is identical to one used in 1795. While Shedlon varieties 67 to 72 are all attributed to assistant engraver John Smith Gardner and categorized as Heads of 1795, this variety claims the closest relationship to the Mint's 1795 large cent coinage. This die marriage introduces Obverse 39 and Reverse KK, the latter of which is also seen in the extremely rare NC-3 (#35702).
The obverse is easily distinguished by its unique hair treatment, where the lowest lock lacks a curl and instead terminates in a blunt stub. Additionally, the legend is tightly spaced, with the word LIBERTY nearly touching the top of the head at the base of the "T." While the reverse is noted for its "drooping" stems, as described by numismatist William Noyes, and its specific foliage arrangement of a triple leaf under the "O" and a double leaf under the "D," the obverse remains the primary diagnostic for collectors. Most examples exhibit progressive die cracks that grew heavier throughout the production run, which is believed to have consisted of 20,021 specimens struck on December 30.
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