1804  C-13  R1  F12.  Plain 4 with Stemless Wreath.   (Heritage 10/23 06 catalog description)  This coin has an arc-like depression on the reverse, with small incuse leaves visible at the lower left wreath and border, and these are positioned such that they match the positions of the second upper left leaf and right terminal leaf.  We do not believe that this represents damage; rather is appears that this piece was originally an off center brockage that was struck a second time in the normal manner.  Olive and steel brown color is intermingled with lighter tan around the devices.  This is an attractive piece, and extremely interesting.  It is a coin that should be carefully considered by the specialist.  Removed from an ANACS slab graded VF20 details, damaged.  Ex Frank McGrath, eBay-Ed Fuhrman, Heritage 10/23/06:40-Michael Spurlock.

 M&G assessment:  F15.  Frosty chocolate and dark steel brown.  Double struck.  The initial impression was 50% off center and the reverse was a brockage impression from a previously struck example.  The second strike was normal.  The “Damage” mentioned by ANACS is part of the mint error.

1804  C-13  R1  MS63+.  Plain 4 with Stemless Wreath.   Choice lustrous light steel brown with lots of faded underlying mint red remaining, perhaps 20% on each side.  Great eye appeal and nearly flawless.  The best identifying marks are a very tiny nick on the eyebrow and a speck of darker steel toning (not carbon) touching the back of the head.  MDS, Manley state 2.0.  The dentil fusing at ME is clear.  A beautiful example of this common variety.  This is the plate coin for the variety in Breen’s book.  Removed from an NGC slab graded MS65BN (#1667718-001, population 1/0).  The attribution is noted on the NGC label.  Ex Colonel E. H. R. Green-B. G. Johnson-R. Tettenhorst 2/92-Bill Weber, M&G Auctions/Superior 6/2/2002:2322-unknown-M&G Auctions/Superior 2/25/03:105-Ed Fuhrman 2/28/06-Michael Spurlock.

 M&G assessment:  Concur.  A great example, best eye appeal of any we have seen.

 
1804  C-13  R1  F15.  Plain 4 with Stemless Wreath.  Double Struck.  Reverse Brockage Maker.   Slightly sharper with some minor contact marks, none notable.  Glossy chocolate and olive brown with frosty lighter greenish steel toning in protected areas.  Double struck.  Both strikes were centered on the planchet but they were rotated about 30 degrees between impressions.  The doubling is bold on the portrait, but there is no doubling on the reverse.  Rather, the second strike on that side was against a new blank planchet that had been inserted into the press, thus creating an incuse brockage impression on that second planchet.  A careful examination using a strong glass reveals an additional outline to the portrait on the second strike that suggests a third strike may have occurred.  Similar doubling can be found on the reverse as well, so it is quite reasonable that this piece received at least 3 strikes.  Ex Frank McGrath, M&G Auctions/Goldbergs 2/11/07:197-Michael Spurlock.

 M&G assessment:  VF20 net F12+.  Lightly cleaned and retoned with some light contact marks.

 1805  C-1  R2-  AU58.  Stemless Wreath.   Virtually flawless coin with predominately lighter brown color.  The obverse has areas of lighter mint red peeking through.  The reverse has gold mint color showing through around the devices.  There are a couple of light toning spots on the obverse and one on the reverse.  Extremely close to mint state, if not so.  Manley state 2.0.  Ex Chris McCawley 3/99-Ed Fuhrman 2/28/06-Michael Spurlock.

 M&G assessment:  Concur.  Frosty chocolate and steel brown with tan and very faded red in protected areas.

 1805  C-1  R2-  G5.  Stemless Wreath.  Reverse Double Struck.   Lightly cleaned and recolored a glossy dark steel brown.  The only notable marks are some hairline scratches on the reverse.  The obverse is normal with a strong date and clear LIBERTY.  The reverse is weaker but everything remains readable.  The reverse shows sharp, clear doubling on most of the devices, but the offset is less than a millimeter.  Ex Robert Beauregard 11/4/06-Michael Spurlock.

 M&G assessment:  G5+ net G4+.

 1805  C-2  R5  VG10.  Small 5 with Stems.   Very Fine-20 for sharpness and so, technically condition census.  Good, light brown color with some pale blue overtones.  Surfaces just microgranular, center of reverse rougher due to die failure.  Obverse pin scratches, these will serve to identify this specimen.  Mentioned by Breen as his CC#5.  EDS, Manley state 1.0.  Ex Charles M. Williams, Numismatic Gallery 11/14/1950:718-Robert Schonwalter, Stack’s 1/21/03:1149-Chris McCawley 5/5/05-Michael Spurlock.

 M&G assessment:  VF25 net F12+.   Close to F15.  Lightly cleaned and nicely retoned glossy chocolate and steel brown with delicate overtones of bluish steel.  Great surfaces except for a half dozen hairline scratches at the top of the head, and only two of these are visible without a glass—but those two certainly do catch the eye.

 1805  C-3  R4  VF20.  Small 5 with Stems.   One of the finest known.  Sharpness of VF25+ but has some tiny cuts on both sides.  The planchet is smooth and has nice color (very rare for the variety).  Medium brown toning throughout and fairly well struck.  The ever-present bulge is visible in the right obverse field, which promptly retired the obverse die’s use.  Identifiable by a pair of digs below the U of UNITED and a severe scrape on the same letter.  Two other small digs are noted, one below the first T in STATES, another right of the right ribbon bow.  An extremely rare coin in this condition, and probably in the condition census for the variety.  LDS, Manley state 2.0.  Ex Dr. George R. Ross 4/1916-Thomas L. Elder 5/15/37:1825-unknown-Paul Norris, Superior 5/31/92:59-Doug Bird-Doug Roether-Chris McCawley 11/2001-Ed Fuhrman 2/28/06-Michael Spurlock.

 M&G assessment:  Concur.  Glossy steel and chocolate brown.  One small dig on the obverse, 6 more on the reverse.

 1805  C-4  R2-  AU50.  Large 5 with Stems.   Glossy dark chocolate brown with some underlying medium chocolate on the obverse.  The surfaces are smooth and virtually flawless.  A couple light nicks between the second A in AMERICA and the ribbon are the best identifying marks.  MDS, Manley state 2.0 early.  Very close to mint state.  Removed from an NGC slab graded AU58BN (#274659-004).  Ex Dr. Wallace Lee, M&G Auctions/Superior 5/25/03:232-Ed Fuhrman 2/28/06-Michael Spurlock.

 M&G assessment:  EF45+, very close to AU50.