Skip to main content
Ended

Coins and Medals

23 September 2013 | starting at 10:00 PDT
Live Auction

Auction highlights

Lot gallery

132 lots available

1792 Washington Roman Head Cent Proof 64 Brown PCGS Baker-19, W-10840, R.6. CAC Sticker. Lettered Edge. Bust of Washington right with Roman-style hair in ribbon, WASHINGTON PRESIDENT around, date below; reverse with CENT above a stylized heraldic American eagle. Deep and glossy golden-tan and bronze surfaces exhibit bold design elements and no marks of immediate consequence; we do note a few light ticks under low magnification, as suggested by the assigned grade. Easily among the rarest and most desirable of all Washington-related pieces -- especially those in copper -- and thought to exist in a quantity of just 15 or so pieces, including a well-circulated Proof 08 piece. Struck in Obediah Westwood's private mint in Birmingham, England from dies engraved by the young John Gregory Hancock, the 1792 Roman Head cents are part of the English Conder token series. These pieces were prepared expressly for distribution to contemporary collectors, and they depict Washington dressed in the style of a Roman official. This was a popular way of honoring the United States' first president, but usually after his death, so it is curious that the Roman Head cents were produced during Washington's lifetime. One of the rarest of all Washington coinage types, this coin has been a favorite for a long time. Made for numismatists in England in the late 1790s in an era when there was hardly any collecting interest on our side of the Atlantic, these pieces were struck in limited quantity -- probably no more than a couple dozen or so. Currently, the Roman Head cent has an extant population range from 15 to 20 pieces including four or five examples impounded permanently in museum collections according to George Fuld, 1995. These America-related pieces are especially intriguing and highly elusive. (PCGS 731)

2024
1792 Washington Roman Head Cent Proof 64 Brown PCGS
Baker-19, W-10840, R.6. CAC Sticker. Lettered Edge. Bust of Washington right with Roman-style hair in ribbon, WASHINGTON PRESIDENT around, date below; reverse with CENT above a stylized heraldic American eagle. Deep and glossy golden-tan and bronze surfaces exhibit bold design elements and no marks of immediate consequence; we do note a few light ticks under low magnification, as suggested by the assigned grade. Easily among the rarest and most desirable of all Washington-related pieces -- especially those in copper -- and thought to exist in a quantity of just 15 or so pieces, including a well-circulated Proof 08 piece.

Struck in Obediah Westwood's private mint in Birmingham, England from dies engraved by the young John Gregory Hancock, the 1792 Roman Head cents are part of the English Conder token series. These pieces were prepared expressly for distribution to contemporary collectors, and they depict Washington dressed in the style of a Roman official. This was a popular way of honoring the United States' first president, but usually after his death, so it is curious that the Roman Head cents were produced during Washington's lifetime.

One of the rarest of all Washington coinage types, this coin has been a favorite for a long time. Made for numismatists in England in the late 1790s in an era when there was hardly any collecting interest on our side of the Atlantic, these pieces were struck in limited quantity -- probably no more than a couple dozen or so. Currently, the Roman Head cent has an extant population range from 15 to 20 pieces including four or five examples impounded permanently in museum collections according to George Fuld, 1995. These America-related pieces are especially intriguing and highly elusive. (PCGS 731)

US$100,000 - US$110,000

1843 1/2C First Restrike, Proof 64 Red and Brown PCGS Small Berries. B-2, R.6. The 1843 is an important issue among Braided Hair half cents; it is a Proof-only delivery that is a very scarce, if not rare find in today's market. Both originals and restrikes are known, the latter with small berries in the reverse wreath, as represented by the present example. Breen calls this die marriage (doubled letter T in CENT on the reverse) a "First Restrike," which the author attributes to circa 1856-1857. The present example appears to be an earlier striking from this die pairing, inasmuch as the repunching at the base of the digit 8 in the date is still relatively bold. A full strike and broad, squared off rims are also readily evident, but more direct light angles are required to discern modest semi reflective tendencies in the fields. Such angles also call forth vivid gold, apricot and pale-lilac undertones to otherwise dominant sandy-olive patina. Overall smooth, and a probable Gem were the surfaces a bit more vibrant in appearance. B-2 is the most frequently encountered die marriage of the Proof Restrike 1843 half cent, but such pieces are decidedly rare when viewed in the wider context of U.S. numismatics. Restrikes of this date as a group have an extant population of only 30-40 coins per the current version of The PCGS Population Report. PCGS Population: just 6, with a lone Proof 65 Red and Brown finer. There are no Red specimens of the Proof Restrike 1843 certified. Housed in an early green label holder. (PCGS 1270)

2027
1843 1/2C First Restrike, Proof 64 Red and Brown PCGS
Small Berries. B-2, R.6. The 1843 is an important issue among Braided Hair half cents; it is a Proof-only delivery that is a very scarce, if not rare find in today's market. Both originals and restrikes are known, the latter with small berries in the reverse wreath, as represented by the present example. Breen calls this die marriage (doubled letter T in CENT on the reverse) a "First Restrike," which the author attributes to circa 1856-1857. The present example appears to be an earlier striking from this die pairing, inasmuch as the repunching at the base of the digit 8 in the date is still relatively bold. A full strike and broad, squared off rims are also readily evident, but more direct light angles are required to discern modest semi reflective tendencies in the fields. Such angles also call forth vivid gold, apricot and pale-lilac undertones to otherwise dominant sandy-olive patina. Overall smooth, and a probable Gem were the surfaces a bit more vibrant in appearance. B-2 is the most frequently encountered die marriage of the Proof Restrike 1843 half cent, but such pieces are decidedly rare when viewed in the wider context of U.S. numismatics. Restrikes of this date as a group have an extant population of only 30-40 coins per the current version of The PCGS Population Report. PCGS Population: just 6, with a lone Proof 65 Red and Brown finer. There are no Red specimens of the Proof Restrike 1843 certified. Housed in an early green label holder. (PCGS 1270)

Sold for US$8,190 inc. premium

Additional information