Torres Half Cent Collection

EARLY CENTS

OUR TERMS OF SALE

1. All coins are guaranteed genuine. I will replace or issue a refund for any coin found not to be genuine. This is a lifetime guarantee on this promise I offer for your protection. 2. All attributions are guaranteed correct, which is also a lifetime guarantee. I will issue a refund or, if available, provide a replacement for any coin found to be mis-attributed. 3. A full 14-day return privilege is allowed on all purchases. Returns may be made for any reason, or for no reason. My business depends on attracting repeat customers. It does neither one of us any good for you to keep a coin with which you are not completely satisfied. I am confident that the overall quality and value of the material I offer here is second to none. This does not mean that you might not order a coin that fails to satisfy your personal taste or desire. It is even possible for me to have missed a defect or to have been optimistic about the grade, however it is not my intention. I encourage you to use the 14 days as an approval period. Feel free to show your purchases to other knowledgeable EAC members. Get a second opinion. All sales are final after the 14-day period. 4. Approval service is also available to established clients. Seven days inspection is allowed on approval service at which time the coin must be returned, or funds remitted. Approval sales are considered final after seven days. Extensions are available upon request. We accept VISA or MASTERCARD with a 3% service fee. 7. Most collectors find that the enjoyment, education, and friendships formed as a result of their collecting pursuits have been their greatest reward If it much easier to lose money quickly than to make money quickly in rare coins. If you are not willing to undertake the educational process necessary to make well informed decisions regarding your collection, you will almost certainly lose. Coin dealers are often more than willing to give investment advice. As my good friend Jack Robinson (whose collection did very well for him when it was sold in 1989) likes to say: THINK ABOUT IT! When you ask a cat which canary to buy, remember his first concern may not be how well it sings. There are many opportunities to do well financially in rare coins. However as with any other medium investment, success is the result of a combination of knowledge, good timing, and the ability to wait for the right time to sell. Commit yourself to the process of becoming an educated collector and you stand a good chance of success. 5. All orders are sent postpaid. 6. Strict ANA and EAC guidelines are followed in grading.

EARLY CENTS www.earlycentsauctions.com | info@earlycentsauctions.com P.O. BOX 41000, Austin, TX 78704 Lucas Baldridge, Texas Auctioneer Lic#18106 © 2022 EarlyCentsAuctions

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The J. Torres Collection of United States Half Cents

In the summer of 1971, at the carefree age of 12, a neighborhood friend showed me his Lincoln Cent collection by date and mintmark and ignited my interest in collecting coins. Soon I acquired the requisite blue Whitman folders and made frequent trips to coins shops and coin shows in suburban Chicago. There was a sublime joy and innocence collecting with nothing but a Redbook and a modest wallet. I pursued many other interests growing up, including wrestling in high

(Colonials, half cents, large cents, and Hard Times Tokens), Capped Bust half dollars, and Mexican Cap and Rays 8 Reales. My Half Cent Collection reflects this collecting journey. What began as a Type set grew into a Redbook set, and ultimately a Redbook set on steroids. I rely on three sources of collecting support: books, mentors, and coin clubs. I have a comprehensive numismatic library that includes many books on early coppers. These books explain and teach me die variety and die state attribution. My early copper mentor is

school and at the University of Notre Dame, but I never put my numismatic interests on hold. After college I attended law school at the University of Chicago, and upon graduation relocated from the Midwest to the Southwest and embarked on a 42+ year legal career, the last 21 years serving as the Chief Legal Officer of a large publicly traded corporation. With my recent retirement, I can now better indulge my coin appetite. For many years I pursued Type collecting. As my age and income increased, so did the size and quality of my collection. I matured as a numismatist and shifted my focus to coin series that offered the challenge and fun of attributing die varieties and die states. For the last decade or so I have concentrated largely on early copper

Chris McCawley. Chris is generous with his time, knowledge, advice, and friendship, and helps guide me through major purchases and sales. I am also grateful to numerous coin clubs for their teachings and camaraderie, including the ANA, Early American Coppers, the Colonial Coins Collectors Club, the John Reich Collectors Society, and others. This Half Cent Collection reflects my strong bias for coins with superior eye appeal and my fussy aversion to coins with spots. I hope that you enjoy the coins that are offered, and that you find something special to include in your collection.

The J. Torres Collection of Half Cents

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EARLY CENTS

HALF CENTS

LOT 1 1793 C-1 R3+ Liberty Cap, Head Left, XF45 PCGS, CAC Approved. Very attractive glossy light chocolate brown. No corrosion or roughness, only light wear and trivial marks. A couple very tiny ticks on the chin, a small prick at the front of the eye, a speck of dark crud hidden inside the bottom of the cap, and a fine hairline under the denominator are the only notable marks. A small spot of slightly darker chocolate brown toning at the border beads right of the cap can help identify this piece. Rare LDS, Manley state 3.0, Fuhrman state 3, with a large rim cud break at F-AME extending from the border beads to the edge of the planchet. The rim cud consumed a lot of the planchet metal so the opposing border beads on the obverse are softly struck. In addition the central portion of the reverse is not fully struck due to minor die swelling causing the E & N in CENT to be quite weak. Both areas of weakness are normal for all seen in this die state. This is the fourth finest example with the cud break known to us. Our grade is EF40. 1000.45/90087795 $35,000 Ex James R. McGuigan (privately)-Chris McCawley 11/30/2020-The J. Torres Collection of Half Cents

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LOT 2

1793 C-2 PCGS XF40, CAC Approved. Choice medium chocolate brown. There is a minute mint mark on the neck under Liberty’s ear as an identifier. The reverse is rotated 45 degrees CW. MDS. Our grade consistent with the PCGS grade. $35,000

LOT 3 1793 C-2 R3 Liberty Cap, Head Left, F12 PCGS. Dark olive brown and steel with lighter brown toning covering the devices on the reverse. Nicely detailed with a clear date and legends. Fine roughness covers the planchet and shallow verdigris shows in the fields and protected areas. The roughness is strongest on the obverse but the graders at PCGS did not consider it significant enough to assign a Details grade. Our grade is net VG10. 1000.12/25377139 $11,000 Ex Heritage Auctions 11/1/2013:3491-Heritage Auctions 4/23/2014:3873-Liberty Rare Coins 5/4/2014-The J. Torres Collection of Half Cents

The J. Torres Collection of Half Cents

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EARLY CENTS

LOT 4 1793 C-4 R3 Liberty Cap, Head Left, AU50 PCGS. Choice glossy light brown blending to light chocolate. Mint frost shows in protected areas and this half cent has outstanding eye appeal. Essentially flawless with light friction on the highpoints of the devices and microscopic contact marks, none visible without the aid of a glass. A tiny planchet flake over the I in AMERICA can help identify this piece. MDS, Manley state 2.0, Fuhrman state 2, and Breen state II-III. The lump at the top of the 7 is strong, fine die rust shows in the obverse fields, and the die clashmarks of Breen’s state III between the cap and hair are clear. This is the Breen plate coin for die state II on page 78 of his 1983 Encyclopedia of United States Half Cents 1793-1857. Nicely centered on a choice planchet. A superior example of this classic American half cent. Our grade is EF45 . 1000.50/42423577 $45,000 Ex (possibly Ebenezer Gilbert)-unknown-Stack’s 11/1968:447-Donald Groves Partrick Collection, Heritage Auctions 4/23/2021:3594 (as NGC graded XF45, CAC)-Stuart Levine (who had it regraded by PCGS to AU50)-Chris McCawley 8/20/2021-The J. Torres Collection of Half Cents

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LOT 5 1794 C-1a R3 Liberty Cap, Head Right, Large Edge Letters, AU53 PCGS. Glossy chocolate brown delicately blended with slightly lighter and darker brown tones. Smooth with minor marks including a thin, shallow struck-through line (caused by a tiny piece of thread from a cleaning rag stuck to the die or planchet during striking) that meanders from the bottom of the bust to the top of the 4, a thin diagonal scratch from the right side of the 9 through the top of the 4, and two dull nicks left of the O in OF. This half cent was struck at least two times. There is a 90% off-center brockage impression of dentils on the right side of the obverse and an arc of strongly impressed dentils located about 10% off center through MERIC. Sharply struck LDS, Manley state 3.0, Fuhrman state 2, with bold die clashmarks on both sides. Struck with the reverse rotated 20 degrees CCW relative to the normal head-to-foot die orientation. The repunching at the bottom of the 179 is strong. A sharp, very attractive early mint error. Our grade is EF40. Weight 107.4 grains. (The holder is scuffed on the reverse.) E1003.53/19965032 $10,500 Ex Gordon J. Wrubel 12/3/1983-R. Tettenhorst (The Davy Collection), McCawley & Grellman Auctions/Goldbergs 9/19/2010:4-unknown-Heritage Auctions 2/16/2017:3612-Chris McCawley 3/18/2017-The J. Torres Collection of Half Cents

LOT 6 1794 C-2a R2+ Liberty Cap, Head Right, Small Edge Letters, XF45 PCGS. Frosty steel brown and chocolate with lighter brown in protected areas. Sharply struck with smooth surfaces except for a spot of light reddish corrosion at OF. Just a few contact marks including a few nicks on the neck, one of which appears to be relatively fresh. Rare EDS, Manley state 1.0, Fuhrman 1, with a faint die crack through the top of ERTY but before die clashmarks off the throat and neck. Our grade is net VF35. 1003.45/1860561 $8,500 Ex Liberty Rare Coins 3/3/2012-The J. Torres Collection of Half Cents

The J. Torres Collection of Half Cents

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EARLY CENTS

LOT 7

1794 C-2b R5+ Liberty Cap, Head Right, Large Edge Letters, F15 PCGS. The obverse is slightly glossy medium brown fading to chocolate and olive brown in protected areas. The reverse is glossy light to medium brown. Looks smooth to the unaided eye but there is very fine roughness on the obverse, mostly in the fields and protected areas where there are traces of darker verdigris. Only a few notable contact marks including a rim nick at ES in STATES, a rim bruise at the U, and a couple more small ones at CA. E-MDS, Manley state 2.0, Fuhrman state 2, with die clashmarks on the obverse The date and legends are strong except for strike weakness at ES in STATES. The Large Edge Letters are clear. A nice example of this rare variety in spite of the imperfect surfaces. Our grade is VG10+ . The attribution is noted on the PCGS label. (The holder is scuffed.) 35027.15/24972372 $22,000 Ex Chris McCawley-The J. Torres Collection of Half Cents

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LOT 8

1794 C-4a NGC XF 45. Dark chocolate brown with smooth surfaces. A small scratch on Liberty’s lower nect to the right of her shoulder. The reverse is rotated 45 degrees CCW. From the scarce early states of these dies prior to any trace of the obverse clash marks before Liberty’s neck. Our grade XF 40. $9,500 Ex. Kevin Vinton.

LOT 9 1794 C-4a R3 Liberty Cap, Head Right, Small Edge Letters, EF40 ANACS. Glossy light to medium brown blending to light reddish brown in protected areas. The planchet is mostly smooth but there are small parallel planchet striation voids on the obverse, mostly near the dentils on the right side of the obverse. No corrosion or verdigris, only light wear and trivial contact marks including a tiny tick on the left foot of the A in HALF. Nicely struck E-MDS, Manley state 2.0, Fuhrman state 2, with die clashmarks on both sides but no swelling left of the date. Our grade is VF30 . The attribution is noted on the ANACS label. $7,500 Ex Chris McCawley-The J. Torres Collection of Half Cents

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LOT 10 1794 C-5a R4+ Liberty Cap, Head Right, Small Edge Letters, AU58BN NGC. Choice frosty light to medium chocolate brown. A superior half cent with light wear and outstanding eye appeal. Nearly flawless with satiny fields and sharp devices. Smooth with trivial marks including a few very tiny planchet chips around LIBERTY (as struck) and a faint vertical scratch through the Y in LIBERTY into the field below where it fades away, and a small nick on the right top of the E in AMERICA. EDS, Manley state 1.0, Fuhrman state 1, without any die clashmarks. The dies are close to a perfect head-to-foot alignment, perhaps 5 degrees CCW. A premium half cent and a highlight of the Davy II offering. Clearly near the top of the condition census, which contains no mint state examples. Our grade is EF45. Weight 106.6 grains. 6678324-002 $38,500 Ex Harlan P. Smith, S. H. & H. Chapman 5/8/1906-Elmer S. Sears-unknown-James A. Stack, Sr., Stack’s 11/29/1989:27-R. Tettenhorst (The Davy Collection), McCawley & Grellman Auctions/Goldbergs 9/4/2011:109-Chris McCawley 6/2/2023-The J. Torres Collection of Half Cents

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LOT 11

1794 C-7 R5+ Liberty Cap, High Relief Head Right, XF45 PCGS. Glossy olive and chocolate brown with traces of lighter brown toning in protected areas on both sides. The surfaces are mostly smooth and the eye appeal is excellent. The notable defects are a small spot of very shallow verdigris in the ear, a patch of microscopic porosity in the field midway between the upper lip and the dentils, some very light diagonal nicks over AL in HALF, and a shallow planchet flake at the top of the second S in STATES. LDS, Manley state 2.0, Fuhrman state 2. The die crack through E in UNITED reaches the top of the H in HALF and fine die clashmarks are visible on both sides. The dies are perfectly aligned head-to-foot. A premium example of a very rare variety. This is the plate coin for the variety and die state in the 1998 Ronald P. Manley, PhD, reference The Half Cent Die State Book 1793-1857. Tied for CC#4 of the variety in the Mike Spurlock census, CC#6 in the Jim McGuigan census, and CC#5 in the Roger Cohen list. Previously removed from a PCGS holder graded AU55 (PCGS label #1003.55/50012009). Noyes photo #74326. Our grade is EF40. Weight 108.2 grains. 35057.45/25276949 $42,000 Found in Ireland-Spink & Son USA Auction #1, 9/14/1982:245-Jack H. Robinson 2/1983 (in trade)-James R. McGuigan 8/12/2002-Robert Ewell (“The Whister” Collection), McCawley & Grellman Auctions/Goldbergs 9/4/2011:14-Chris McCawley 10/6/2024-The J. Torres Collection of Half Cents

The J. Torres Collection of Half Cents

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EARLY CENTS

LOT 12

1794 C-8 R5 Liberty Cap, High Relief Head Right, XF45 PCGS. Glossy mix of chocolate and lighter brown, the reverse a few shades lighter than the obverse. There are some contact marks including a couple nicks on the truncation above the 94, a dull dent on the chin, and minor rim bruises at CA and under the right end of the fraction. Traces of verdigris can be found in some of the protected areas (looks soft and removable). LDS, Manley state 2.0 late, Fuhrman state 3, with a strong die crack from the rim down through the second T in STATES and wreath into the field above the A in HALF. The earlier die clashmarks are clear. Our grade is net VF25+ , close to VF30. A nice piece, near the lower end of the condition census for this tough variety. Plate coin for the Manley Half Cent Book. 35060.45/27149949 $29,500 Ex Heritage Auctions 5/29/2008:1747 (as NGC XF40BN, #248864-001)-Chris McCawley 10/6/2024-The J. Torres Collection of Half Cents

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LOT 13

1794 C-9 R2 Liberty Cap, High Relief Head Right, VF35 PCGS. Choice glossy brown and chocolate. Smooth with light wear and minor contact marks including a few small ticks on the jaw, cheek, and forehead. A very tiny tick at the right foot of the first T in STATES can help identify this piece. MDS, Manley state 2.0, Fuhrman state 2, with a clear die crack from the dentils to the middle of the cap, but the small rim cud left of the fraction has not formed. A premium mid-grade example of the High Relief Head type. Our grade is VF30. (The reverse of the holder is scuffed.) 1003.35/25276949 $6,500 Ex Chris McCawley 7/22/2014-The J. Torres Collection of Half Cents

LOT 14 1794 C-9 R2 Liberty Cap, High Relief Head Right, MS62 Brown PCGS. Very attractive frosty medium brown and light chocolate. The planchet is smooth except for some microscopic planchet chips near the rims and traces of fine die rust (tiny lumps on the coin) on the obverse. Has the eye appeal of a mint state half cent but there is a hint of friction on the highest points of the devices. The only mark of any significance is a light diagonal scratch from the top of the T in CENT to the field under the first A in AMERICA where it fades away. LDS, Manley die state 3.0, Fuhrman state 3, with a clear die crack from the rim into the center of the cap and a narrow rim cud left of the fraction. This is the Manley plate coin for his die state 3.0. Noyes graded AU55, his photo #10879. Our grade is net AU50. A very nice example of the High Relief Head type. 1003.62/46516650 $37,500 Ex Chris McCawley 6/2/2023-The J. Torres Collection of Half Cents

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EARLY CENTS

LOT 15 1795 C-1 R2 Lettered Edge, Thick Planchet, MS62 Brown NGC. Lustrous tan and light brown. Sharply struck with great eye appeal. The only contact mark is a light scratch in the field off the end of the nose. Looks choice mint state but there is a hint of rub on the very highest points of the devices. E-MDS, Manley state 2.0 early, Fuhrman 2 early, with the faintest hint of a bulge forming at AME. Microscopic lumps caused by fine die rust show in the fields on the upper half of the reverse. Nicely centered with bold dentils around both sides. Our grade is AU58. 5747072-004 $32,500 Ex RARCOA (Ed Milas) 8/25/1987-Donald G. Partrick Collection, Heritage Auctions 4/23/2021:3608 (includes the Partrick collection envelope)

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LOT 16 1795 C-2a R3 Punctuated Date, Lettered Edge, Thick Planchet, AU58 Brown NGC. Choice glossy light to medium brown with slightly darker steel brown toning on the highpoints. Sharply struck with mint frost in protected areas showing just a light touch of friction on the highpoints. Just trivial marks including a speck of very fine carbon at the dentils right of the chin and a tiny scratch off the end of a curl below the cap. Very rare MDS, Manley state 2.0, Fuhrman state 2, with a subtle bulge in the field before the face and swelling through ER in AMERICA. The fields on the obverse are hard and very slightly reflective while the fields on the reverse show microscopic lumps from die rust that occurred during the earlier C-1 marriage. Our grade is AU50. A beautiful, condition census example of the Punctuated Date type, and it comes with a very nice provenance. Weight 107.4 grains. (The front of the holder is scuffed.) 6678324-003 $35,000 Ex John L. Roper, Stack’s 12/8/1983:432-James R. McGuigan-Dr. Wallace Lee, McCawley & Grellman Auctions/Superior 5/25/2003:97-Russ Butcher 11/2022-Chris McCawley 11/21/2022-The J. Torres Collection of Half Cents

The J. Torres Collection of Half Cents

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EARLY CENTS

LOT 17

1795 C-4 R3 Punctuated Date, Plain Edge, VF25 PCGS. Choice glossy light to medium chocolate brown with slightly lighter brown toning in protected areas on the obverse. Smooth and quite attractive with only trivial marks. The best identifying marks are a couple small ticks on the nose, a nick on the top of the cap, and a dull nick over the second A in AMERICA. The date is bold and the “punctuation” between the 1 and 7 is strong. The legends are fully formed except for weakness on CENT (which is nearly always weakly struck on this variety). E-MDS, Manley state 2.0 early, Fuhrman state 2. The die line down from the first T in STATES is incomplete. A beautiful half cent that offers great eye appeal. Our grade is VF20 choice . 35080.25/34079139 $3,850 Ex McCawley & Grellman Auctions/Goldbergs 5/31/2015:36-Barry Lame (The Green Tree Collection), McCawley & Grellman Auctions/ Goldbergs 2/18/2018:22

LOT 18 1795 C-5a R3 No Pole, Thin Planchet, MS61 Brown PCGS. Frosty brown and light chocolate with splashes of olive brown on the obverse. The darker areas on the obverse have specks of fine verdigris, mostly on the upper half of the cap. The only contact mark worthy of mention is a fine, light scratch from the left edge of the Y through the forelock into the forehead where it fades away. The surfaces are smooth except for microscopic planchet chips on the left side of the obverse and the opposing area at ED-STAT (as always seen on this variety; probably because the die faces were out of proper alignment). Otherwise the date and devices are sharply struck. EDS, Manley state 1.0, Fuhrman state 1. The die cracks on the reverse are fine and there is no swelling at the F in HALF. This piece is the first of three Uncirculated examples listed in the 1983 Hanson-Breen condition reported on page 149 in Walter Breen’s Encyclopedia of United States Half Cents 1793-1857. Our grade is net AU55. Solidly in the condition census today but not the finest; perhaps in the middle of the top six of the variety. 1018.61/47310994 $39,000 Ex Jon Hanson 8/2023-Chris McCawley 8/21/2023-The J. Torres Collection of Half Cents

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LOT 19 1795 C-5b R3 No Pole, Thick Planchet, AU55 PCGS, CAC Approved. Very attractive frosty brown and chocolate with slightly darker steel brown toning on the highpoints and lighter brown in protected areas. Essentially flawless except for microscopic planchet flakes in the fields, mostly on the reverse. No corrosion, verdigris, or notable contact marks. A few shallow flakes at ST in STATES and a small but deeper one under the right side of the L in HALF are good identifying marks. Struck on a thick planchet weighing 110.0 grains (versus the thin planchet standard of 84.0 grains). These thick half cent planchets were most likely from spoiled or unused large cent planchets that were cut down for a half cent. There is no visible undertype on this piece so a cut-down unused cent planchet is the most-likely source. An interesting feature of these thick planchet strikes is the diameter which often is a millimeter or two larger than what we see on thin planchet version. This accounts for the longer dentils. In addition the strike is normally a bit softer on the date and HALF CENT, especially on the 5. It appears these thick planchet were slightly harder and more brittle than their thin-planchet counterparts, but any additional rolling to reduce the thickness would increase the hardness. E-MDS. The die cracks on the reverse are relatively light and the swelling at the F in HALF is not severe. Our grade is EF45. This is the eighth piece listed in the Breen-Hanson condition census where called “Extremely Fine” (page 151 in the Breen encyclopedia). 35086.55/43841921 $37,500 Ex Nicholson Family Collection, Stack’s 6/2/1967:758-Donald Groves Partrick Collection, Heritage Auctions 4/23/2021:3616 (as NGC AU55BN, CAC)- unknown-Stuart Levine-Jonathan Kern (via Chris McCawley) 3/22/2024-The J. Torres Collection of Half Cents

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EARLY CENTS

LOT 20

1795 C-6a R2 No Pole, Thin Planchet, MS62 Brown PCGS. Frosty steel and olive brown with tan and light brown in the fields and protected areas. There is a puff of dark olive brown toning at the end of the curls below the cap, a small scratch hidden in the dentils below the 5, and a couple tiny marks at TY in LIBERTY. The date and devices are sharply struck but there is weakness in some of the dentils on both sides. EDS, Manley state 1.0, Fuhrman state 1, with no hint of swelling right of the Y. Struck over a cut-down Talbot Allum & Lee (TAL) Cent. Much of “CENT” from the TAL undertype is clearly visible below the date. Our grade is AU55. 35089.62/47303403 $25,000 Ex Chris McCawley 10/6/2024-The J. Torres Collection of Half Cents

LOT 21

1795 C-6a R2 No Pole, Thin Planchet, VF30 NGC. Glossy medium brown and golden tan with a swipe of light chocolate brown below the truncation. Smooth and void of notable marks, but there is some soft dirt caked into protected areas, especially along the profile and nestled around the leaves and fraction. HALF CENT is a bit weak but the date and other legends are strong. EDS, Manley state 1.0, Fuhrman state 1, with no swelling right of the Y. Our grade is VF20. A nice piece for the grade. 3412239-001 $3,850 Ex Heritage Auctions 11/8/2011:3015-Chris McCawley 12/17/2011-The J. Torres Collection of Half Cents

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LOT 22 1795 C-6b R5+ No Pole, Thick Planchet, AU50 PCGS, CAC Approved. Glossy medium brown and chocolate with a few spots of darker toning that contain fine verdigris. The surfaces are attractive but they are not perfectly smooth. There a shallow carbon spot over the Y in LIBERTY, a few fine hairline scratches on the lower half of the obverse, a small reddish spot in the field before the eye, a spot of raised greenish verdigris over the F in OF, and traces of light verdigris around the fraction. EDS, Manley state 1.0. A sharp, attractive example in spite of the imperfect surfaces (which are typical for this variety). The CAC approval attests to the nice eye appeal. The date and legends are complete and clear, and the strike is nearly centered on the planchet. Our grade is EF4 0 net VF30. Listed as the third finest of this rare variety in the Spurlock condition census. Weight 106.6 grains. The attribution and Missouri Cabinet provenance are noted on the PCGS label. 35092.50/27234624 $38,500 Ex James R. McGuigan 10/30/1987-R. Tettenhorst-Eric P. Newman Numismatic Education Society (EPNNES)-Missouri Cabinet, McCawley & Grellman Auctions/Goldbergs 1/26/2014:35-Chris McCawley-The J. Torres Collection of Half Cents

The J. Torres Collection of Half Cents

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EARLY CENTS

LOT 23 1796 C-1 R6 No Pole, VF25 PCGS. Slightly glossy dark olive brown and chocolate. The surfaces are decent and appear smooth to the unaided eye, buy there are traces of microscopic roughness on the both sides. The roughness is not distracting but it does reduce the natural gloss. There is no verdigris, and the only notable contact marks are a sharp rim nick left of the bottom of the cap, a minor rim bruise under the 79, and a tick under the chin. The date is bold and the legends are strong, including HALF CENT. The bisecting obverse die crack is prominent, especially in the field before the mouth. A wonderful mid-grade of this classic rarity. Listed as “About Very Fine” and Condition census #4 in the Breen-Hanson condition census in the 1983 Breen encyclopedia (page 160). Our grade is net F15+ , at the lower end of the current condition census for the variety. Weight 79.6 grains. Plated in the 1916 Gilbert half cent reference (Plate 1, obverse only) and in Wayte Raymond’s Standard Catalog to illustrate the 1796 No Pole variety. Comes with a long, distinguished provenance, as you might expect for such an important coin. A highlight of this (or any) advanced collection of “The Little Half Sisters.” Comes with a wonderful provenance. 35095.25/43764919 $350,000 Ex David Proskey (privately)-Hillyer Ryder-Ryder Estate 1928-Wayte Raymond 12/1944-New Netherlands Coin Co #44, 6/23/1954:275-Mrs. R. Henry Norweb, Bowers & Merena 10/1987:22-John Whitney Walter (via Stack’s)-James R. McGuigan 7/1993-Ray.Rouse, McCawley & Grellman Auctions/ Goldbergs 9/14/2008:31-Russ Butcher (via Chris McCawley) 9/7/2022-The J. Torres Collection of Half Cents

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The J. Torres Collection of Half Cents

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LOT 24

1796 C-2 R4 With Pole, AU58 PCGS. Frosty steel and chocolate brown with lighter brown and tan in protected areas. The planchet is smooth and the details are sharp. Close to mint state but there is a hint of friction on the highpoints. Just a few contact marks including a diagonal nick at the right bottom of the 9 and some small ticks low on the neck. The dentils on the left of both sides are weak (as usual), the product of dies that were out of proper axial alignment (the die faces were not perfectly parallel). A very nice example of the rarest date in the entire series of US Half Cents. Our grade is AU50. (The holder is scuffed.) 1027.58/42472166 $150,000 Ex an old estate in England 1965-Bailey Puckett-Dr. Wallace Lee, McCawley & Grellman Auctions/ Superior 5/25/2003:119 (as PCGS AU53)-Russ Butcher (via Chris McCawley) 5/17/2021-The J. Torres Collection of Half Cents

The J. Torres Collection of Half Cents

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LOT 25 1796 Edwards Copy, Kenny-1, Rarity 7-, AU55 PCGS. Choice glossy golden tan blending to light chocolate in protected areas. Smooth and essentially flawless with light friction on the highpoints. The Edwards copies of the 1796 half cent were struck using hand-made dies on rolled copper planchets that are a bit thinner and lighter than the genuine version. The workmanship is of good quality and the resulting design is a fairly accurate representation of the genuine article. These were struck sometime prior to 1865 by Dr. Frank Smith Edwards of New York, and the first auction appearance came in 1866. After the death of Dr. Edwards in 1865, Edward Cogan wrote that he had destroyed the dies and all but 12 of the remaining specimens. Dr. Edwards’ collection was sold in an auction conducted by Bangs, Merwin & Company in October 1865, and none of these copies was included in that sale. The first appearance of one of his copies in an auction occurred in 1866. These copies are highly sought and seldom appear for sale. The reported “surviving mintage” of 12 specimens appears to accurately represent the number of examples that escaped destruction, although we do not know how many were actually struck. Presently we can trace 11 examples, and that total has not changed in many years. These Edwards Copies are mentioned briefly in a note following the 1796 half cents on page 89 in the “Redbook”. A very nice, problem-free example of this popular copy. Our grade is AU50 Choice. 397325.55/28534844 $12,000 Ex Heritage Auctions 10/3/2001:5142 (as AU58)-Stack’s Bowers 11/5/2015:20002 (as MS63)-Chris McCawley 3/5/2016-The J. Torres Collection of Half Cents

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LOT 26 1797 C-1 R2 1 Above 1, XF45 PCGS. Frosty steel brown and chocolate with lighter brown in protected areas on the reverse and darker steel brown on the highpoints. No roughness or notable contact marks, just light wear on the devices. small puff of slightly darker toning under the jaw is a good identifying feature for this piece. The left edge on both sides is weakly struck and covered with tiny planchet chips, a characteristic of examples in the early die state. The die faces were not perfectly parallel, a problem that was corrected for later die states. EDS, Manley state 1.0, Fuhrman state 1, before any swelling or noticeable die cracks on the obverse. The reverse is rotated 15 degrees CCW relative to the normal head-to-foot die orientation. The misplaced 1 above the normal 1 in the date is obvious. There is no convincing evidence of a TAL Cent undertype on either side. Our grade is VF35. 35101.45/13090409 $9,500 Ex Chris McCawley 4/21/2018-The J. Torres Collection of Half Cents

LOT 27 1797 C-1 R2 1 Above 1, AU55 PCGS. Frosty light olive and medium steel brown blending to chocolate. The surfaces are smooth and the only contact marks are some very fine hairline scratches on the cheek and nose with a few extending slightly into the field before the face. The scratches are faint, visible only under magnification, and this half cent has excellent eye appeal. A spot of dark toning in the field under the bottom of the cap is a good identifying mark. M-LDS, Manley state 4.0, Fuhrman state 6, with multiple bulges and die cracks on the obverse, and ICA in AMERICA starting to weaken due to the advancing die failure on the obverse. This is the plate coin for die state 6 in the Fuhrman reference. Our grade is AU50+ sharpness net EF45. 35101.55/34079138 $12,000 Ex Heritage Auctions 4/29/2010-Barry Lame (The Green Tree Collection), McCawley & Grellman Auctions/Goldbergs 2/18/2018:30-Chris McCawley 4/21/2018-The J. Torres Collection of Half Cents

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EARLY CENTS

LOT 28 1797 C-1 R2 1 Above 1, VG10 PCGS. Rather glossy dark steel brown and chocolate. Mostly smooth with nice eye appeal, but there are traces of microscopic roughness around the lower edge of the cap. Just a few trivial marks including a thin vertical nick in the center of the cheek. LDS, Manley state 5.0, Fuhrman state 8, with die cracks and obvious swelling on the obverse. The nose is weak, RTY is faint or missing, and ICA is gone, all due to die failure. This obverse die is ready for the scrap heap, but the stray 1 above the 1 in the date remains strong. Our grade is VG10. (The holder is scratched on the front.) 1042.10/10173086 $1,500 Ex Chris McCawley 8/18/2012-The J. Torres Collection of Half Cents

LOT 29 1797 C-2 R3 Centered Head, VF30 PCGS. Very attractive glossy light to medium chocolate brown with traces of frosty steel brown in protected areas on the reverse. Smooth with just a few marks including a light scratch in the field under the cap and a long nick or scratch on the forehead. Both marks are blended into the attractive toning and this piece has excellent eye appeal. The obverse is slightly misaligned to K-9. MDS with no trace of undertype from a TAL Cent or spoiled large cent. Our grade is VF25. (The front of the holder is scuffed.) 1036.30/13815549 $4,500 Ex Heritage Auctions 2/22/2018:3043-Colonel Steven K. Ellsworth (Butternut) 5/31/2019-The J. Torres Collection of Half Cents

LOT 30 1797 C-3a R3 Low Head, Plain Edge, VF25 PCGS. The obverse is glossy medium brown and light chocolate; the reverse is a glossy mix of medium chocolate and lighter brown tones. The surfaces are smooth and the eye appeal of this half cent is quite nice. Only minor marks including a few tiny ticks at the bust and pole, a small nick over the top of the cap, and a dull nick across the 7. Softly struck at AME but the date and other legends are strong. E-MDS, Manley state 1.0, Fuhrman state 2, with a small “wart” break from the chin. The repunching on the right side of the Y in LIBERTY is clear. Our grade is VF20. 35107.25/80821715 $8,500 Ex Chris McCawley 5/31/2019-The J. Torres Collection of Half Cents

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LOT 31 1797 C-3b R4 Low Head, Lettered Edge, F12 PCGS. Choice glossy medium brown and light chocolate. The planchet is smooth with the exception of minor roughness around the 7, and this piece has excellent eye appeal. Just minor contact marks including a couple nicks and shallow scuff marks under the L in LIBERTY, a nick on the lower edge of the cap, and a thin nick at the F in HALF. EDS, Manley state 1.0, Fuhrman state 1, before the “wart” break from the chin. Struck on a planchet cut from an off-center large cent. MER from AMERICA on the large cent remains clearly visible on the neck into the last digit of the date, and traces of large cent dentils show at the F in OF. The strike is uneven thanks to the undertype, and the upper right of the reverse is relatively soft (as usual on this die pair). The edge lettering is clear, although some of the letters hang off the planchet because they were a bit too tall for the planchet (as always). A nice example of the popular Lettered Edge version of the variety with obvious undertype from the repurposed spoiled large cent. Our grade is F12. Comes with a very nice provenance. Weight 82.9 grains. 1033.12/80821699 $16,500 Ex David Proskey-David O. Hughes (privately)-Lee G. Lahrman, Abe Kosoff 2/1/1963:55-Gilbert Steinberg Sale, Superior 9/16/1996:1496-Ray Rouse-Russ Butcher-Chris McCawley 6/2/2018-The J. Torres Collection of Half Cents

LOT 32

1797 C-3b LETTERED EDGE PCGS VF30. Sharply struck obverse and reverse. The planchet is a hard, smooth light chocolate brown. There is a dull scratch in the field left of Liberty’s cap. A similar mark is in the obverse field K3. Earlier die state prior to the “goatee” Our grade VF30 net VF25. $22,000

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EARLY CENTS

LOT 33 1797 C-3c R6+ Low Head, Gripped Edge, Good-6 PCGS. The obverse is sharper while the reverse is weaker (as always on worn examples of the Low Head type), perhaps an 8/5 split. Mostly glossy chocolate brown and steel. The surfaces are smooth and this piece has excellent eye appeal for the grade. The only notable marks are a few light vertical scratches from the dentils down through ER in LIBERTY to the top of the head where they disappear. Otherwise just tiny contact marks scattered over both sides. What makes this piece so special are the “Grip Marks” that were added to the edge at the mint. The grip marks are visible all the way around the edge but some of them are weak. Curiously there are 8 “extra” overlapping grip marks in addition to the normal complement. The reason for the additional grip marks is unknown, but it could be from the same type of operator error that caused blundered edge lettering while using the Castaing machine to add edge devices. MDS, Manley state 2.0. The die crack extending from the chin is clear but it fades into a dull wave before reaching the dentils to the right. Our grade is G6+. Certainly one of the finest known. All the known examples are well worn and most have significant surface problems. PCGS has awarded real grades ranging from VG10 to AG3 to five pieces. And in a direct comparison with the PCGS VG10 example this piece was preferred by some experts. The famous collection formed by Jules Reiver did not contain this variety, and the superior collection formed by James R. McGuigan contained a heavily worn piece graded AG3 by PCGS (Fair-2 by EAC grading standards). The finest half cent collection ever formed, the Missouri Cabinet, contained two examples: a PCGS Genuine Fine Details piece that was lightly corroded and damaged, and a heavily worn PCGS graded AG3 with a mostly slick reverse. Although a nice 1796 No Pole might command a higher price, the 1797 Gripped Edge is the real key to completing a “Redbook” collection of half cents. Weight 78.1 grains. 35116.06/19448625 $135,000 Ex Loyd Whiteneck 8/1973-Sam Unger 11/29/1982-R. Tettenhorst (The Davy Collection), McCawley & Grellman Auctions/Goldbergs 9/4/2011:183 ($195,500)-Pete Miller (The ESM Collection), Stack’s Bowers 3/19/2020:3014 (via Chris McCawley)-The J. Torres Collection of Half Cents

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The J. Torres Collection of Half Cents

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EARLY CENTS

LOT 34

1800 C-1 R2 MS61 Brown PCGS. Lustrous olive and steel brown with traces of lighter brown on both sides. Sharp with a touch of friction on the highpoints and trivial contact marks. A few tiny ticks hidden in the hair left of the neck and a thin diagonal nick on the front of the neck are the only notable marks. A small puff of slightly darker toning left of the upper end of the hair ribbon is a good identifying mark. MDS, Manley state 3.0, Fuhrman state 3. The curl left of the date is weak but still complete. Our grade is AU58. 1051.61/84008620 $3,500 Ex Chris McCawley 9/23/2017-The J. Torres Collection of Half Cents

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LOT 35 1802/0 C-1 R5+ Overdate 2 over 0, Reverse of 1800, AG3 PCGS. The obverse is sharper than the reverse, perhaps a 4+/3 split (although some areas that are well struck have details of a slightly higher grade). The planchet is covered with uniform fine granularity but there is no verdigris and only trivial marks. A thin diagonal nick on the end of the bust is a good identifying mark. Slightly glossy olive brown and steel. The overdate feature (2 over 0) is weak but readable; the rest of the date is clear. The area at OF on the reverse is always weakly struck on this variety. Our grade is AG3. An acceptable example of this very rare “Redbook” variety, one that is extremely difficult to find in grades better than About Good. (The reverse of the holder is scratched.) 1054.03/35722844 $17,500 Ex Chris McCawley 9/23/2017-The J. Torres Collection of Half Cents

LOT 36 1802/0 C-2 R3 Overdate 2 over 0, Reverse of 1803, F15 PCGS. Attractive glossy dark steel and olive brown with lighter chocolate toning on the devices. The surfaces are smooth with traces of fine dirt in protected areas. The only notable mark is a small tick under the H in HALF. E-MDS, Manley state 2.0, Fuhrman state 2, with clear die rust lumps between the I & B in LIBERTY. Struck on a planchet cut down from a spoiled large cent. Dentils from the spoiled cent are visible over ATES and the planchet is slightly beveled at the opposing area under the date. The date and legends are complete and clear and the overdate is sharp. Our grade is F15 . Weight 79.5 grains. 35125.15/15873723 $9,500 Ex Donald K. Valenziano, Jr. 2/2/1998-Ray Rouse, McCawley & Grellman Auctions/Goldbergs 9/14/2008:41-Chris McCawley 9/23/2017-The J. Torres Collection of Half Cents

LOT 37 1803 C-1 R1 Repunched 3, AU58 Brown NGC. Glossy medium brown and light chocolate with frosty lighter brown in protected areas, particularly on the reverse. There is a small patch of reddish brown toning along the front edge of the neck, and this area contains a trace of very fine verdigris. Otherwise just light wear on the highpoints and small contact marks, mostly on the portrait. A small vertical nick at the bottom of the eye and a diagonal nick low on the neck near the shoulder are the notable marks. EDS, Manley state 1.0, Fuhrman state 1, with sharp dentils on both sides and no die cracks on the reverse. The repunching at the top of the 3 is clear. Our grade is EF45. 3662069-001 $4,750 Ex Chris McCawley 11/25/24 -The J. Torres Collection of Half Cents

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EARLY CENTS

LOT 38

1803 C-2 R4 Repunched 3, VF35 NGC. Glossy light chocolate brown with slightly lighter brown in protected areas on both sides. The surfaces are smooth except for some fine verdigris around BERT and ERICA. Minor marks, mostly in the field before the chin and neck. Nicely struck E-MDS, Manley state 3.0, Fuhrman state 2, with a fine die crack through the top of ATES OF AMERICA to the dentils right of the fraction. The bottom of a stray 3 shows near the dentils under the left half of the 3. A decent example of this tough die variety. Our grade is net VF20+. 4113819-002 $8,500 Ex Chris McCawley 6/1/2018-The J. Torres Collection of Half Cents

LOT 39

1803 C-3 R2 AU58 PCGS. Frosty steel brown and light chocolate with lighter brown and tan in some of the protected areas. A small puff of darker olive brown touches the hair under the I in LIBERTY and a larger puff of reddish brown toning shows in the field before the eye. Looks mint state but there is a hint of rub on the highest points of the devices. A fine diagonal scratch in the field before the neck is the only notable sign of contact. M-LDS, Manley state 4.0, Fuhrman state 4, with clear die polishing lines down to the left from IBE, the strongest line tangent to the back of the head. Our grade is AU58. 1060.58/25248672 $7,500 Ex Chris McCawley 3/18/2017-The J. Torres Collection of Half Cents

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LOT 40

1803 C-3 R2 MS62 Brown PCGS. Frosty light olive and steel brown with golden tan in many of the protected areas. A splash of darker olive brown toning under the L in LIBERTY and a thin vertical nick on the bust over the 3 in the date are the only notable marks. M-LDS, Manley state 4.0 late, Fuhrman state 4 late. The die polishing lines down to the left at various angles from IBE are fading away (weaker than on the previous lot), and a fine but clearly defined die crack that meanders from the rim to the top of the hair ribbon. Our grade is MS60. The attribution and Green Tree Collection provenance are noted on the PCGS label. 35134.62/34063134 $6,500 Ex Heritage Auctions 6/3/2004:7003 (as NGC MS63BN)-Barry Lame (The Green Tree Collection), McCawley & Grellman Auctions 2/18/2018:54-Chris McCawley 4/22/2018-The J. Torres Collection of Half Cents

LOT 41

1803 C-4 R4 XF40 NGC. Glossy medium brown and steel blending to light chocolate in protected areas. Smooth with minor marks including a tiny chip in the center of the cheek, some light nicks in the field over the hair ribbon, and a small nick on the right base of the E in AMERICA. MDS. The reverse is not upset and the die clashmarks on the reverse are clear. This is the plate coin for the variety in the Fuhrman reference on the half cents of 1800-1808. Our grade is VF25+. The attribution is noted on the NGC label. 2527092-003 $2,600 Ex Chris McCawley 11/25/24 -The J. Torres Collection of Half Cents

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EARLY CENTS

LOT 42

1804 C-4 R5 VF30 PCGS. Glossy chocolate brown with steel brown toning on the devices. Smooth with minor marks including a couple nicks on the jaw, a small spot of reddish corrosion high on the bust, and a small horizontal nick over AL in HALF. Soft crud shows in protected areas on both sides. EDS, Manley state 1.0 late, Fuhrman state 1, with a few light cracks on the reverse but none on the obverse. This is the plate coin for the die variety in the 1983 Breen half cent encyclopedia (page 228, the large photos, coin provided by James R. McGuigan, photos by Jack Collins). A very nice mid-grade example of this tough die variety. Our grade is VF20. 1069.30/47168190 $9,500 Ex James R. McGuigan-Jon Hanson-Chris McCawley 12/9/2023-The J. Torres Collection of Half Cents

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LOT 43

1804 C-5 R4 Spiked Chin, AU55 PCGS. Frosty tan and light brown in protected areas with darker steel brown toning on the devices. No roughness, just light friction on the highpoints and minor contact marks. The notable marks are a fine diagonal scratch on the cheek, a small dig in the field under the chin, a light scratch below the 80, and another hidden along the bottom of the bust. LDS, Manley state 5.0, Fuhrman state 3, with die cracks on the reverse and obvious swelling at the top of the wreath and TES. The “Spiked Chin” feature (caused by damage to the die) is strong. Our grade is AU50. 1075.55/27823232 $5,500 Ex Chris McCawley 2/28/2015-The J. Torres Collection of Half Cents

The J. Torres Collection of Half Cents

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EARLY CENTS

LOT 44 1804 C-6 R2 Spiked Chin, MS62 Brown PCGS. Lustrous steel brown with golden tan faded down from mint color in protected areas. A sharp, attractive half cent. The surfaces are satiny but there are some marks including a couple obvious nicks on the neck, a small spot of fine carbon under the fist S in STATES, and another near the dentils left of the first A in AMERICA. EDS, Manley state 1.0, Fuhrman state 2, with fine die cracks on the reverse. The “Spiked Chin” feature is bold. A very nice example of this popular “Redbook” variety. Our grade is MS60. 1075.62/34583869 $4,800 Ex Chris McCawley 11/12/2020-The J. Torres Collection of Half Cents

LOT 45 1804 C-7 R4 Spiked Chin, AU55 NGC. Glossy chocolate brown and steel with lighter brown on a few of the highpoints. Smooth surfaces with light wear and minor marks. There are a few small scuffs that break the toning in the field before the mouth and neck, a horizontal nick in the hair left of the neck, and a small, nearly round planchet void in the hair above the back of the ear. Nicely struck EDS, Manley state 1.0, Fuhrman state 1, with an uncracked reverse. Our grade is VF35. A very nice example of this tough die variety. The attribution is noted on the NGC label. 5718217-001 $6,500 Ex Chris McCawley 11/1/24 -The J. Torres Collection of Half Cents

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LOT 46 1804 C-8 R1 Spiked Chin, MS65 Brown PCGS. Lustrous medium brown and light chocolate with golden tan and light brown dominating the reverse. The surfaces are satiny and this piece has great eye appeal. The best identifying marks are a tiny tick on the cheek close to the curl, a faint streak of slightly darker toning from ATE into the wreath below, and a tiny rim nick over the right side of the second S in STATES. M-LDS, Manley state 4.0, Fuhrman state 4, with a partially raised retained cud break over LI. The cud is almost fully raised over the L, less so over the I. A neat intermediate die state. The “Spiked Chin” feature is bold. This is the plate coin for the die state in both the Manley and Fuhrman references. Our grade is MS62. A superior example of a “Spiked Chin” variety; certainly one of the finest known. 35167.65/30451236 $13,500 Ex Stack’s 10/1984:437-James R. McGuigan Collection, Heritage Auctions 8/22/2022:3064-Heritage Auctions 2/27/2023:53084 (via Chris McCawley 3/14/2023)-The J. Torres Collection of Half Cents

The J. Torres Collection of Half Cents

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