Auction Name: 2026 January 8 US Coins Signature Auction - FUN Special Sessions: Ellsworth & Jacobson

Lot Number: 2019

Shortcut to Lot: HA.com/1389*2019

1793 1C NC-4 R7+ Liberty Cap, VF Detail, Corrosion Removed, PCGS. Slightly glossy dark olive brown and steel with lighter brown on the highpoints, especially on the obverse. Covered with moderate corrosion, strongest on the reverse, but there are no contact marks or notable traces of verdigris. Only five examples are known and two of those are impounded in museums (one in the ANS Collection, another in the Yale University Collection). This is the finest of the remaining three examples. Graded VF20 net VG7 and tied for CC#1 with the Yale University Collection example in the Noyes census, his photo #28285. The complete Noyes census for the NC-4 variety is 7(2)-6-5-4. Bland says VF20 net VG7 and CC#2 behind the Yale University coin in his census of 8-7-5-4 (Bland did not evaluate the newest discovery, a corroded net G4). This cataloger's EAC grade is net VG7. This is the discovery coin for the variety and it is the plate coin in the 2000 Breen encyclopedia. The G6 in the Noyes census (G5 in the Bland census), a heavily worn but smooth piece, brought $27,600 as lot #15 in the 9/6/2009 McCawley & Grellman/Goldberg auction of the Daniel W. Holmes, Jr. collection. With only three pieces available to collectors this opportunity may not come around again for many years. The attribution and COL Ellsworth Collection provenance are noted on the PCGS Gold Shield label (35468.97/44293926).
Ex Dr. Charles L. Ruby (who discovered this new variety in 1950) 12/1972-Superior Stamp & Coin Co.-Superior Galleries 2/11/1974:327 ($6500)-Gus Portman, Superior 2/16/1976:337 ($3500)-Superior (privately) 4/1977-Robinson S. "Robbie" Brown, Jr., Superior 9/30/1986:12 ($5060)-Robinson S. "Robbie" Brown, Jr., Superior 1/27/1996:11 ($9900)-J. R. Frankenfield, Superior held in association with McCawley & Grellman Auctions 2/17/2001:198 ($16,100)-W. M. "Jack" Wadlington 5/3/2005-Bob Grellman & Chris McCawley 7/27/2005-COL Steven K. Ellsworth.

The Dr. Charles L. Ruby Collection, Part I, offered by Superior Galleries in February 1974, encompassed a remarkably broad range of U.S. numismatics. The sale included colonials, early copper (half cents and large cents), small cents, nickel and silver minor coinage, dimes through silver dollars, trade dollars, and a comprehensive selection of U.S. gold from dollars to double eagles. It further featured commemoratives, territorial gold, patterns, proof sets, type coins, and mint errors. With coverage across virtually the entire Red Book spectrum, the auction reflected Ruby's deep pursuit of die varieties and completeness, making it one of the most extensive and diverse dispersals of its time.

The catalog also provides a biographical sketch of Dr. Charles L. Ruby (1900-1974), portraying him as a distinguished academic, lawyer, and collector with a lifelong devotion to numismatics. A descendant of Andrew Jackson, Ruby held doctorates in economics and law, taught as a professor in California, and contributed extensively to professional and numismatic organizations, including service on the American Numismatic Association Board of Governors and the U.S. Assay Commission. His wide-ranging interests extended beyond coins to stamps, American artifacts, and art, but he was particularly admired for the depth of his coin collecting. The auction represented one of the most significant dispersals of a "name" collection of the era, placing Ruby among the great collectors whose holdings became legendary in the numismatic community.

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