United States 1811 cent
The "Classic Head" large cent was issued 1808-14 along with a matching half cent. The type is scarcer than the prior "Draped Bust" cent of 1798-1807 or the succeeding "Coronet Head" cent minted 1816-19. The disparity only increases with grade; it seems lower quality planchets used at the time contributed to rapid wear. By a strange coincidence, the even numbered dates (1808, 1810, 1812, 1814) are all more common than the odd (1809, 1811, 1813). Numerous varieties exist. We show two examples here.
S-286
The first specimen was lot 1061 in Stack's Bowers 2020 ANA auction, where it sold for $43,200. The catalog description noted,
"Condition Rarity 1811/0 S-286 Cent, Bland CC#1; Noyes CC#2, 1811/0 Classic Head Cent. AU-58 (PCGS). Die Variety: Sheldon-286, Breen-2. Obv: Overdate, which is definitive for an obverse die of the 1811 Classic Head cent issue, here in its only use. Several small lumps are evident in the field between the 0 underdigit and star 13. Rev: Instantly recognized by a jagged, horizontal die gouge (called a "dash" by Breen and Noyes) in the field under the upright of the letter E in ONE. This die also appears in the S-291 pairing of the 1812-dated cent. S-286 is the only die marriage that corresponds to the 1811/0 Guide Book listing of this issue.
Die State: Noyes A/A, Breen II. Obv: Perfect, with faint die swell at the border below the digits 11 in the date. Rev: Faint, blurry clash marks are evident within the wreath to the right of the denomination ONE CENT. Estimated Surviving Population for the Die Variety: Rarity-3: 301 to 400 coins in all grades.
This is an overall sharply struck example with softness confined to stars 1 to 5 and 13, which are more or less devoid of radial lines. The obverse impression is a bit tight to 9 o'clock, although we note full denticulation around that side of the coin. Reverse impression off center to 1 o'clock with no denticulation along the upper right border. A hard, satiny and tight example with warm chocolate-brown patina on the obverse that gives way to lighter medium brown over much of the reverse. Both sides reveal blushes of faded mint color that are most pronounced on the reverse around the letters STAT in STATES. An ancient, inactive carbon deposit in the left obverse field before Liberty's throat and a faint scuff at the border above the head are the only worthwhile identifiers. The surfaces are predominantly smooth and exceptionally well preserved for an example of this challenging die pairing.
Scarcer than most other die marriages in the Classic Head cent series of 1808 to 1814, the 1811/0 Sheldon-286 is also challenging to locate in high grades because most examples are struck on dark, rough, or otherwise impaired planchets. Breen opines that the copper blanks for this variety may have been damaged by bilge water or salt spray while they were being transported to the Mint's facility in Philadelphia from its supplier Matthew Boulton in England. These planchets formed part of Boulton's shipment that arrived at the Mint on November 24, 1809, and which was exhausted on March 12, 1811 after 218,025 coins were struck (the presumed mintage from 1811-dated dies). The ESM specimen is among the finest obtainable for this die pairing, ranked CC#1 in the Bland census with an EAC grade of AU-55, while the 2015 Noyes census says CC#2 and AU50(AU55) Average. An outstanding condition rarity destined for another world class large cent cabinet.
Provenance: From the ESM Collection. Earlier ex Dennis E. Steinmetz, July 1994; Denis W. Loring, July 1994; John B. MacDonald, August 1999; Wes Rasmussen; Heritage's sale of the Wes Rasmussen Collection, January 2005, lot 3348; Denis W. Loring, April 27, 2007; Dan Holmes; Ira & Larry Goldberg's sale of the Dan Holmes Collection, Part I, September 2009, lot 559; Chris Victor-McCawley. The plate coin for the die variety in the 2015 edition of the Noyes large cent reference. PCGS Population: 2; 0 finer."
S-287
The second specimen was lot 1061 in Stack's Bowers 2020 ANA auction, where it sold for $75,000. The catalog description noted,
"Fabulous Mint State Red and Brown 1811 S-287 Cent, Ex Miller-Sloss-Helfenstein-Holmes-ESM, 1811 Classic Head Cent. MS-66 RB (PCGS). Die Variety: Sheldon-287, Breen-1. Obv: Normal Date, which is definitive for this obverse die that appears only in the S-287 pairing. A die scratch extends from star 5 halfway to Liberty's nose. Rev: The letter U in UNITED is a bit low, and the point of the highest leaf in the wreath is just past the right side of the final letter S in STATES. S-287 also represents the only use of this reverse die. S-287 is the only die marriage that corresponds to the normal date Guide Book listing of the 1811 Classic Head cent.
Die State: Noyes B/B, Breen I. Obv: Perfect, but with the die starting to deteriorate. A loupe reveals faint flowlines in the field, particularly around the periphery. Rev: Perfect but, again, with faint flowlines due to die deterioration. Estimated Surviving Population for the Die Variety: Rarity-2: 751 to 1,000 coins in all grades.
The obverse is sharply struck overall, although the impression is drawn trivially to 10 o'clock with scant denticulation along the upper left border, stars 1 to 7 blunt and lacking centrils. The reverse is more uniformly full in striking detail, the impression on that side only slightly off center to 1 o'clock, denticulation complete, if a bit light at the upper right. This is a frosty and attractive 1811 cent, with mottled medium brown patina on both sides. The surfaces also retain plenty of original rose-red color along the right obverse border, in the center and at the right border on the reverse. The peripheries on both sides display plenty of golden-orange from fading of the mint color. A few swirls of faint steel tinting are scattered about in the obverse field, but the only worthwhile identifier is a tiny carbon spot that is well concealed between the lowest points of star 11.
Production of cents in the Philadelphia Mint during calendar year 1811 ended on March 12, at which point only 218,025 coins had been delivered. Planchet stock for these represented the last of the copper that the Mint received from its English supplier Matthew Boulton on November 24, 1809. The next shipment from Boulton, although ordered in January 1811, did not reach the Mint until April 15, 1812.
There are only two die marriages known for the 1811 Classic Head cent issue, and they are easily distinguished. Sheldon-286 is the 1811/0 overdate while S-287, offered here, is the normal date. Although many numismatic references list the overdate variety before its normal date counterpart, Breen provides compelling evidence to support the theory that S-287 was the first variety of the date struck:
'1) the overdate shares a reverse with 1812 number 1 [S-291];
2) the reverse of the normal date closely resembles one of the 1810 dies.'
The difficulty of locating attractive, problem free Classic Head cents even at the various AU grade levels attests to the rarity and significance of this premium Gem 1811. It is one of the finest known survivors from the S-287 dies, tied for CC#5 in the Bland census with an EAC grade of MS-61, CC#2 and graded MS63(MS60) Choice in the 2015 Noyes census. The only example certified finer at PCGS is the Beckwith specimen in MS-65 RD that realized $493,500 as lot 5135 in our April 2017 sale of the D. Brent Pogue Collection, Part V. One of numerous outstanding large cents in the ESM Collection, this impressive coin will do equally well in a high quality type or variety set. Outstanding!
Provenance: From the ESM Collection. Earlier ex Henry C. Miller; Thomas L. Elder's sale of the Henry C. Miller Collection, April 1917, lot 812; "Colonel" E.H.R. Green; Burdette G. Johnson (St. Louis Stamp & Coin Co.); Arthur C. Fritz; Rudolph Khol; Federal Coin Exchange's Fixed Price List of 1952; Federal Coin Exchange's ANA Sale of August 1954, lot 1032; Dr. James O. Sloss, September 1958; Abe Kosoff's sale of the Dr. James O. Sloss Collection of Large Cents, October 1959, lot 113; R.E. "Ted" Naftzger, Jr.; Louis Helfenstein; Lester Merkin's sale of the Louis Helfenstein Collection of Large Cents, August 1964, lot 46; F.E. Koble; Lester Merkin's sale of April 1970, lot 426; Dr. M. Lamar Hicks; our (Stack's) sale of March 1986, lot 838; R.E. "Ted" Naftzger, Jr., February 23, 1992; Eric Streiner; Jay Parrino, April 16, 1996; W.M. "Jack" Wadlington, via Bob Grellman & Chris Victor-McCawley, June 30, 2005; Dan Holmes; Ira & Larry Goldberg's sale of the Dan Holmes Collection, Part I, September 2009, lot 560. The Sheldon plate coin."
Recorded mintage: 218,025.
Specification: 10.89 g, copper, 28-29 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: KM 39.
- Breen, Walter H., Walter Breen's Complete Encyclopedia of U. S. and Colonial Coins, New York: Doubleday, 1987.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2012.
- Yeoman, R. S., and Kenneth Bressett (ed.), A Guide Book of United States Coins, 59th Ed., Atlanta, GA: Whitman Publishing, 2005.
- Alexander, David T., Coin World Comprehensive Catalog & Encyclopedia of United States Coins, Sidney, OH: Amos Press, 1995.
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