1797 1 Above 1, B-1c, C-1 -- Rotated Double Strike -- XF45 PCGS. Our EAC Grade VF30....

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1797 B-1c, C-1 Half Cent, XF45
Rotated Double Strike

1797 1 Above 1, B-1c, C-1 -- Rotated Double Strike -- XF45 PCGS. Our EAC Grade VF30. Equivalents. Proskey 4: 3-B; Ross 2-B; Gilbert-4; Empire-24; Cohen-1; Breen-1c; Eckberg 1-A.

Obverse 1 is unique to Breen-1. Liberty's head is well centered on this die that has a complete 1 above the final position of that digit in the date. Traces of other digits are also visible on high grade coins. LIBERTY is high above the head and closer to the border. The letters are well spaced. The short, thick pole ends far from the border.

Reverse A appears on Breen-1 and 2. The left branch has 17 leaves and five berries. The right branch has 16 leaves and three berries. Paired berries are below the E in UNITED and the first T in STATES. One outside berry on the right is located below the M in AMERICA. The fraction is closely spaced with the fraction bar nearly joined to the denominator.

Edge. Plain.

Surfaces. Light wear appears on the smooth and glossy chocolate-brown surfaces of this pleasing piece that is devoid of handling marks.

Die State. An intermediate die state although the nature of the double strike does not allow an exact determination. This piece was identified as Manley Die State 4.0 in the Davy catalog.

Production. Starting with a planchet that was made from a cut-down Talbot, Allum & Lee cent, this piece was double struck with about 30 degrees rotation between the two strikes. Both strikes are properly centered.

Appearances. Illustrated in the Superior catalog of the Thomas Chalkley Collection, and in the Goldberg Auctions September 2010 catalog of the Davy Collection, Part I.

Commentary. Unlike some other double strikes that may have intentionally been struck a second time following an imperfect first strike, this piece was probably a true error coin when it was produced. Following its first strike, the coin apparently fell back into the coining chamber where it received a second strike. The Anderson-Dupont cataloger in 1954 described the two strikes as "mutually obliterative."

McGuigan Commentary. Choice glossy medium brown surfaces. Struck over a cut down T.A.L. token. Mint error-double struck with the two strikes rotated approximately 30 degrees, having two dates and double LIBERTY.

Provenance. Ex: Anderson Dupont (Stack's, 11/1954), lot 1061; Dr. Thomas Chalkley (Superior, 1/1990), lot 25; Thomas D. Reynolds (12/9/1994); Davy I Collection (Goldberg Auctions, 9/2010), lot 68.

Personality. Like many other individuals mentioned in this catalog, Dr. Thomas Spencer Chalkley began collecting coins at a young age. He was born at Covington, Kentucky on March 18, 1914, and began collecting in 1920. Also like many others, Chalkley had other collecting interests including stamps, Indian relics, match boxes, and cigar bands. He earned degrees from the University of Kentucky in Lexington, and from the University of Louisville. His internship and residency were at Louisville General Hospital. Chalkley retired from pediatrics after more than four decades in the medical field. He was a past president of the Richmond Coin Club and was member number 404 in Early American Coppers. Chalkley died at Henrico, Virginia on April 29, 2001.
From The James R. McGuigan Half Cent Collection.

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