STACK'S BOWERS: NUMISMATIC AMERICANA

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V29 2026 INDEX E-SYLUM ARCHIVE

The E-Sylum: Volume 29, Number 23, 2026, Article 21

Stack's Bowers will be hosting their June 2026 Showcase Auction, including Session 1 which is comprised of Numismatic Americana, Colonial & Pre-Federal Coins, on June 15. Select items are discussed below. -Garrett

"1799" (ca. 1800) Washington Funeral Urn Medal. Musante GW-70, Baker-166A, Fuld Dies 1-B. Silver. AU-53 (PCGS). 29.5 mm. 138.8 grains. Pierced for suspension at 12 o'clock, as typical. A desirable example of this prized medal in silver, showing evidence of a light handling, yet still remarkably sharp save for the often seen softness at the upper area of the urn. The obverse is mottled with dark bluish-gray toning intermingled with fairly light gray silver. The reverse is lighter overall, with gentle golden-brown and blue iridescence. A good bit of reflectivity remains on both sides, with more on the reverse. Some light handling marks, hairlines and small nicks are noted, while a couple of thin scratches are seen on the reverse. This piece is quite a bit nicer than most seen for the type. It is a most satisfying example of an immensely popular medal, one of a class "perhaps the most valued of all the earlier Washington pieces," to use Baker's own words. He continued, "The time and purpose of their issue and their legends, give to each an interest beyond all others."

Provenance: Ex William Spohn Baker Collection, to the Historical Society of Pennsylvania by bequest, November 15, 1897; our sale of Washingtoniana from the Collections of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania featuring the Collection of William Spohn Baker, November 2019 Baltimore Auction, lot 20055.

1817 James Madison Presidential Medal. Julian PR-3, Neuzil-43. White Metal. MS-62 (PCGS). 63.8 mm, 4.4 mm to 4.7 mm thick. Nice, even medium silver gray color. The fields are bright and somewhat reflective. Overall, superior quality for this rare medal, nicer than most examples that we have offered in recent decades. The obverse, by Moritz Furst, shows Madison's bust facing right with his presidential dates inscribed around. The reverse, by an unknown engraver, refers to what contemporaries called ''Mr. Madison's War'' (the War of 1812). As Neuzil convincingly argues, Furst's obverse was married to the reverse after the latter had been cut down to match sometime after 1817. This medal always comes in white metal; the unique silver specimen is in the ANS Collection.

Provenance: From the Medicus Collection of Presidential Inaugural and Related Medals. Earlier ex Wayte Raymond estate; John J. Ford, Jr.; our (Stack's) sale of the John J. Ford, Jr. Collection, Part IX, May 2005, lot 7, where it realized $16,100.

Extremely Rare 1921 Harding Inaugural Medal in Silver Fewer Than 10 Known 1921 Warren G. Harding and Calvin Coolidge Official Inaugural Medal. Dusterberg HIM-S70, MacNeil-WGH 1921-2, Levine-WGH 1921-2. Silver. MS-62 (PCGS). 70.0 mm. 98.4 grams. With rich, mottled, steel and olive patina on a base of pewter gray, the surfaces faintly reflective when viewed with the aid of strong lighting. Sharply defined and presenting as uncommonly smooth during in-hand viewing despite the presence of faint hairlines that explain the MS-62 grade from PCGS.

The Republican victory over Democratic contenders James M. Cox and Franklin Delano Roosevelt in November 1920 was to have been celebrated with "the most dazzling celebration in the memory of the present generation." This event was to be directed by Washington Post publisher Edward "Ned" McLean and his heiress spouse Evalyn. Campaign denunciations of Woodrow Wilson's supposed governmental extravagance, surviving asceticism from the First World War, and the sudden lurch of the nation's economy into a vicious post-war Depression derailed the planned extravaganza. Nevertheless, the McCleans offered their own lavish private hospitality, which extended to the striking of this Inaugural medal in very small quantities by R. Harris & Co. of Washington.

While not as famous as the 1905 Roosevelt Inaugural medal by Augustus Saint-Gaudens, the medals of Warren G. Harding's 1921 inauguration are exponentially more rare and each appearance is a significant numismatic event. Fewer than 10 are thought to survive in silver and most are held tightly in private collections. We recently handled a silver example in 2019, when we sold the specimen of Edmund W. Dreyfuss (brother of David W. Dreyfuss) as lot 108 in our November Baltimore Auction. Certified Specimen-63 by PCGS at the time of sale, that piece realized $31,200. More recently, we offered a silver example certified Specimen-55 by PCGS which brought $48,000 in our August 2024 Global Showcase Auction. Additionally, a bronze example in our November 2021 Baltimore Auction realized $38,400 in a PCGS Specimen-62 holder. We certainly expect equally strong interest in the silver example offered here.

To read the complete item description, see:
Extremely Rare 1921 Harding Inaugural Medal in Silver (https://auctions.stacksbowers.com/lots/view/3-1T245G/1921-warren-g-harding-and-calvin-coolidge-official-inaugural-medal-dusterberg-him-s70-macneil-wgh-1921-2-levine-wgh-1921-2-silver-)

Incredible Gold Franklin Delano Roosevelt Fourth Inaugural Medal Unique in Private Hands Only 10 Struck for Special Distribution to Government Officials and World Leaders The Specimen Presented to King Ibn Saud of Saudi Arabia 1945 Franklin Delano Roosevelt Official Fourth Inaugural Medal. Dusterberg-OIM 11G45, MacNeil-FDR 1945-1, Levine-FDR 1945-1. Gold. Unc Details--Damaged (NGC). 45.0 mm. 95.3 grams, 1,470 grains, .999 fine, 3.06 troy ounces AGW. In the presidential election of November 7, 1944, Democrat Franklin Delano Roosevelt was elected to an unprecedented fourth term in a strong victory over Republican candidate Thomas E. Dewey. Out of 531 votes in the Electoral College, the president secured 432 votes against Dewey's 99. Roosevelt carried 36 out of the 48 states in the Union, and received 25,612,916 popular votes as opposed to 22,017,929 for Dewey. With World War II going well for the Allies at the time, Roosevelt remained popular despite rumors of ill health and Dewey's campaigning against the New Deal.

Yet when it came to the actual inauguration on January 20, 1945, the president recognized the need for austerity. The nation was still heavily engaged in and preoccupied with World War II, and the military situation had changed since the election in November. On inauguration day the German Ardennes Offensive (the Battle of the Bulge) and supporting attack in the Rhineland-Palatinate, Alsace and Lorraine (Operation Nordwind) had still not been defeated. Although both battles would soon end in Allied defensive victories, the German offensives had come as a shock to American and British leaders and dashed Allied hopes for an end to the war in Europe in 1944. On the other side of the world, the Battle of Leyte Gulf in October 1944 had seen the first organized Japanese kamikaze attacks against U.S. warships, Manila was still in Japanese hands at the end of January 1945, and final liberation of the Philippines was a long way off. Clearly much hard fighting still lay ahead in both the European and Pacific theaters.

Wartime austerity measures, the public mood, and the shortage of copper and bronze due to war demands were some of the many reasons that cast doubt on whether an official medal would be produced for Roosevelt's fourth inauguration. The Mint was also heavily engaged in wartime production with no time or resources to devote to matters other than those related to getting desperately needed coinage into circulation. Nevertheless, Mint Director Nellie Tayloe Ross took the initiative to avoid the Mint being caught unawares and having to work under intense pressure, as it had to in 1941, after the decision to produce Roosevelt's third inaugural medal came so late. She brought the matter to the attention of her immediate superior, Undersecretary of the Treasury Daniel W. Bell, who in turn informed his boss, Secretary of the Treasury Henry Morgenthau, Jr. By December 12, 1944, Ross received the reply from Bell that the president did, indeed, want a fourth inaugural medal.

Two days after Roosevelt returned to the capital on December 20 after a brief period of rest at Warm Springs, Georgia, a small group convened at the White House as the Inaugural Planning Committee. It decided that the inauguration would be an austere and sparse event held at the White House. Under normal circumstances, the production and distribution of the presidential inaugural medal was the responsibility of an Inaugural Committee, a citizens' committee that conducted the "unofficial" aspects of the celebration. Given the austerity of the planned inauguration, however, there was neither the need nor an inclination to establish an Inaugural Committee. Yet even so, there was still the question of how to handle the inaugural medal that the president wanted. Fortunately, one of the members of the Inaugural Planning Committee was Joseph E. Davies, who had served as chairman of the 1941 Inaugural Committee.

Davies had a long a distinguished career as a lawyer and diplomat. From 1936 to 1938 he had served as the United States Ambassador to the Soviet Union, followed by brief stints as the country's ambassador to Belgium and Luxembourg, 1938 to 1939. After these postings, Davies was special assistant to Secretary of State Cordell Hull from 1939 to 1941, in charge of War Emergency Problems and Policies. From 1942 to 1946 he was chairman of the president's War Relief Control Board. Later in the war, Davies would be special advisor to President Harry Truman and Secretary of State James F. Byrnes with rank of Ambassador at the Potsdam Conference, July 17 to August 2, 1945. In December 1944, President Roosevelt asked Ambassador Davies if he would take on the responsibility for the inaugural medal, to which task he readily agreed.

Upon learning of his appointment, Mint Director Ross wrote to Ambassador Davies, "I regard you a committee of one appointed by President Roosevelt to determine all matters relating to that medal." This was a major undertaking. In other years the Inaugural Committee would finance production of the medals, with its medal committee repaying the required advances through sales. With no Inaugural Committee for Roosevelt's fourth inauguration, however, there were no public funds available, and also no staff to handle production and sale of the medals. Writing in his reference The President's Medal: 1789-1977, Neil MacNeil observes:

Davies resolved all these problems at once. He agreed himself to pay for all the medals, and he offered his private staff to handle the distribution. He would be reimbursed as the medals were sold. Davies set up an Inaugural Medal Committee comprised of himself as chairman, Mint Director Ross, and two of his colleagues, attorney Melvin D. Hildreth as vice-chairman, and Alfons Landa; they had all served together on the 1941 Inaugural Committee. To design the medal, Davies' Inaugural Medal Committee turned once again to Jo Davidson, the artist who had designed Roosevelt's third inaugural medal. As part of her initiative earlier in the month, the mint director had already approached Davidson about his possible involvement.

The president agreed to sit for Davidson, and in late December the artist came to the White House for that purpose. As related by MacNeil:

"Those were busy days for him," Davidson later wrote in his memoirs, "and I had to wait around while he found a few precious minutes for me." Davidson took full advantage of his opportunities. He modelled an extraordinarily sensitive portrait, in right profile. To suggest the President's wartime role as Commander-in-Chief, Davidson cloaked him in a Navy cape. Roosevelt had always regarded himself as a naval man. While I was working on his profile, Davidson wrote, he suggested that the reverse of the medal should carry the U.S.S. Constitution in full sail, with the inscription, "Thou too sail on, O Ship of State, Sail on Union strong and great." The President had a painting of the Constitution which he had brought down and sent to the Willard Hotel, where I sat up all night working on it.

Sometime during the brief production process, Davidson prepared a 76.5 mm pattern with a different bust of the president than that which appears on the final product. The portrait is surrounded by an inner border, outside of which is the peripheral legend FRANKLIN DELANO ROOSEVELT / 31ST PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. It was offered in Collectors' Auctions' May 1989 catalog, as lot 94, and referenced in the June 1989 edition (Volume 6, Number 1) of The Medalist.

Meanwhile, Ambassador Davies and Mint Director Ross decided on a 45 mm format for the medal, slightly larger than that of the 1941 inaugural, and settled with the Mint for production of 3,000 bronze examples. These were paid for by Ambassador Davies, as were the additional 500 bronze pieces he approved later to meet actual demand. On January 9, Mint Director Ross received the first trial strike, after which she expressed to Davidson, "It is a splendid product of your skill." The first bronze medal arrived in Washington, D.C. on January 12, and was dispatched by White House mail pouch to Roosevelt, who was at his home in Hyde Park at the time. The remainder of the initial 3,000 bronze examples were all in Washington by January 19, in time for the inauguration the following day.

As customary, one gold medal was prepared for the president, which was paid for by the Inaugural Medal Committee, the four members of which (Davies, Ross, Hildreth, and Landa) were joined by artist Jo Davidson in presenting it to Roosevelt when he returned to the White House from Hyde Park on January 18. Also present that day was General Edwin "Pa" Watson, the president's military aide. As related by MacNeil:

The President was to leave shortly after the inauguration for a summit conference at Yalta. After that, he planned to sail to the Middle East, there to confer with the Arab leaders. Remembering this now, Roosevelt turned to "Pa" Watson. "What does Ibn Saud want for a present?" he asked, about the King of Saudi Arabia.

Exceedingly Rare Presidential Inaugural Gold Charm Bracelet Complete for All Charm Issues, 1953-1969 One of Only Two Known Bracelet Containing (5) Official Presidential Inaugural Medal Charms, 1953-1969. Gold. 136.6 grams (4.39 ounces) total weight, bracelet 18 karat, bezels 14 karat. These gold charms are the rarest and most eagerly sought of the official presidential inaugural committee medals. They were initially produced by Medallic Art Company for the inaugurations from 1953 through 1969, in each case in extremely limited numbers. None were struck in 1973 and 1977, when the contract to produce the inaugural medals was held by the Franklin Mint. When Medallic Art Company took up the contract again in 1981, it resumed production of these gold charms, and continued to do so through the 2005 inauguration.

For the early series, 1953 to 1969, only two complete sets are known, both in bracelets, one of which is being offered here; the other, the Honorable and Mrs. Gilbert Hawn, Jr. specimen, is plated on page 119 of Neil MacNeil's reference The President's Medal: 1789-1977. The following charms are included:

1953 Dwight D. Eisenhower. Dusterberg-OIM 13G21, MacNeil-DDE 1953-5, Levine-DDE 1953-6. 21.0 mm. Mintage: 18. Apart from the present specimen, only four of these have appeared for sale since 1976.

1957 Dwight D. Eisenhower. Dusterberg-OIM 14G27, MacNeil-DDE 1957-5, Levine-DDE 1957-5. 27.0 mm. Mintage: 6. One of these was presented to Mrs. Eisenhower; only one other has been sold at auction, in PCAC's sale of December 5, 1976.

1961 John F. Kennedy. Dusterberg-OIM 15G27, MacNeil-JFK 1961-4, Levine-JFK 1961-4. 27.0 mm. Mintage 5. Four of the five charms were received by Mrs. Kennedy, Mrs. Paul Manship, Mrs. Gilbert Hawn (in the other bracelet), and the original owner of the present bracelet; the recipient of the fifth charm is unknown, and it is untraced.

1965 Lyndon Baines Johnson. Dusterberg-OIM 16G27, MaNeil-LBJ 1965-6, Levine-LBJ 1965-6. 27.0 mm. Mintage: 9. One of these is in the Crain Collection at George Washington University; that offered here is the only one that has appeared for sale.

1969 Richard M. Nixon. Dusterberg-OIM 17G29, MacNeil-RMN 1969-11, Levine-RMN 1969-11. 29.0 mm. Mintage: 5. In addition to the two examples in the bracelets, one is part of the Crain Collection at George Washington University, while a fourth appeared in PCAC's 36th Sale (1983); the fifth is presumed to have been presented to Mrs. Nixon and is untraced.

Each of the charms shows signs of moderate handling, "indicating that the bracelet was worn often and with pride," as Joe Levine put it so eloquently in 2004.

The foregoing information about the extreme rarity of these charms and the paucity of their market appearances is attributed to Jimmy Hayes' forthcoming reference Each New Beginning, Volume III: 1889-2001. Clearly our offering of this bracelet is a fleeting opportunity - perhaps the only one in a lifetime for the advanced collector to acquire an example of each of these types. This bracelet is the centerpiece in the extensive collection of Presidential and Inaugural medals that figures so prominently in this sale, and it will surely see spirited bidding and command a strong price as it transitions into another advanced cabinet.

Provenance: From the Medicus Collection of Presidential Inaugural and Related Medals. Earlier ex our (Bowers and Merena') sale of the David W. Dreyfuss Collection, April 1986, lots 5845 through 5850, unsold; Presidential Coin and Antique Co., Inc.'s sale of the David W. Dreyfuss Family Collection, December 2004 Auction #73, lot 473; Jimmy Hayes.

To read the complete item description, see:
Exceedingly Rare Presidential Inaugural Gold Charm Bracelet (https://auctions.stacksbowers.com/lots/view/3-1T249A/bracelet-containing-5-official-presidential-inaugural-medal-charms-1953-1969-gold)

1783 John Chalmers Shilling. W-1785. Rarity-4+. Birds, Short Worm. AU-50 (PCGS). An inviting example of the type, both sides offer good centering with fully denticulated borders that thin just a bit along the right obverse and reverse. The borders frame otherwise bold motifs that are minimally affected by minor softness isolated within the left portion of the wreath on the obverse and at the beading below the left bird on the reverse. All major design elements, however, are more or less appreciable. The surfaces are devoid of troublesome marks or other blemishes, and handsomely toned in light pewter gray with hints of underlying gold and blue iridescence. The most often seen Chalmers coins are shillings of the bird type, the short worm variant offered here perhaps slightly scarcer than its long worm counterpart. With the quality of strike and superior surface preservation offered here, both types are equally scarce in an absolute sense, and rare from a market availability standpoint. This one is sure to sell for a nice premium.

1776 Machin's Mills Halfpenny. Vlack 6-76A, W-7790. Rarity-4. GEORGIVS III, Group I, Large Date. EF-40 (PCGS). Believed to have been struck in 1785 at Samuel Atlee's brewery mint in New York City, as opposed to at Machin's Mills, this variety is one of only two contemporary counterfeit British halfpence of American origin that displays the magical 1776 date. The Vlack 6-76A typically comes with poor central definition, due to the obverse device punch being pressed too deeply into the die, a situation compounded by the moderate to heavy wear seen on most examples. The present example shows the usual central softness, most notably on the effigy's head and within the lower half of the seated figure, but it is less heavily worn than the usually encountered Vlack 6-76A. Surface quality is also well above average with only tiny, singularly inconspicuous handling marks and no planchet flaws or roughness. Some old dirt is nestled within the protected areas around some of the obverse devices, reverse with a trace of light crimson scale behind the head, none of which features are of major concern. The reverse is well centered, obverse border at upper right into the tops of the digits in the Roman numeral III, date sharp, overall design bold and fully appreciable. An even endowment of warm medium brown patina rounds out an impressive list of attributes for this desirable copper.

1786 New Jersey Copper. Maris 15-T, W-4825. Rarity-3. Straight Plow Beam, Leaning Head. AU-55 (PCGS). 140.8 grains. Both sides are a uniform medium brown in color. The surfaces appear rough and somewhat granular, particularly on the obverse. Well centered on both sides, if a trifle tight on the flan, especially on the reverse. No significant flaws or signs of mishandling requiring specific mention. Struck from the intermediate state of the obverse, the die broken through the tops of the last two letters in the legend, the break running through the top of the plow beam but not yet extending to the date below; the reverse die broken from tip of shield up left toward the first star in the legend. Far nicer than anything we have offered for this Maris number in more than a decade, the E Pluribus Unum Collection had several, but none were finer than PCGS AU-53, while Syd Martin's was in a PCGS VF Details holder due to cleaning. The Eliasberg-Partrick coin in NGC MS-63 RB is tied for CC#1, although the present example would also do justice to one of the finest New Jersey copper sets currently being formed.

Provenance: From the Paul Karanfilian Collection. Earlier ex Henry Chapman's sale of the George M. Parsons Collection, June 1914, lot 228; Hillyer C. Ryder; F.C.C. Boyd estate; John J. Ford, Jr,; our (Stack's) sale of the John J. Ford, Jr. Collection, Part I, October 2003, lot 91.

Fascinating Brockage of RR-2 Reverse Rare Major Minting Error 1785 Vermont Copper. Landscape. RR-2, Bressett 1-A, W-2005. Rarity-3. VERMONTS. Reverse Brockage. VF-30 (PCGS). This is one of the most dramatic, significant Vermont copper errors that we can ever recall offering. The reverse (mounted as the obverse in the PCGS holder), is properly struck, albeit somewhat off center to 3 o'clock and soft at the upper right and lower peripheries. Wear is moderate, although otherwise even, with all central design elements bold, most peripheral lettering clear. The Landscape obverse is nowhere to be seen, its place instead taken by a sharp early brockage of the reverse design that is crisp throughout the all-seeing eye, rays, stars, and letters in QUARTA and STELLA. The left periphery is soft with little trace of an incuse DECIMA. There is a shallow, straight planchet clip just past 6 o'clock relative to the reverse. Handsome olive-copper and medium brown patina overall, the surfaces lightly granular, yet free of significant marks. This is a true specialist's coin, whether they are a Vermont copper enthusiast or more expansive collector of major mint errors, and it will surely see spirited bidding.

To read the complete item description, see:
Fascinating Brockage of RR-2 Reverse (https://auctions.stacksbowers.com/lots/view/3-1T25VU/1785-vermont-copper-landscape-rr-2-bressett-1-a-w-2005-rarity-3-vermonts-reverse-brockage-vf-30-pcgs)

Outstanding RR-3 Vermont Copper Among the Finest Known 1785 Vermont Copper. Landscape. RR-3, Bressett 2-B, W-2010. Rarity-5-. VERMONTS. AU-55 (PCGS). Medallic alignment. This piece rivals the finest certified that we can recall offering for this RR number, the Garrett I:553 specimen which more recently appeared as lot 320 in our March 2019 sale of the Greenway Collection. Certified AU-55 by PCGS at that time, we cataloged the Garrett-Greenway coin as "Probably Finest Known" for the RR-3 dies. This one, also struck on an unusual planchet, has a more balanced appearance, presents better overall, and has equally strong - if not stronger - claim to the coveted "Finest Known" title. The planchet is generally round, a bit ragged just past 6 o'clock relative to the obverse, reverse with prominent cutter mark inside the border from 9 o'clock to 12 o'clock. The strike is well centered and remarkably sharp overall, obverse trivially soft at letters PUB in PUBLICA, whose tops are engaged by the border, areas of minor planchet roughness remain at plow and date area on the obverse, opposite area on lower reverse after DECIMA. Most design elements are boldly rendered and crisp, and all are at least discernible, if with patience. Smooth in the absence of troublesome post-production blemishes, original toning with wisps of olive to dominant autumn-orange brown further enhance the awesome eye appeal.

Writing in the 1993 reference The Copper Coins of Vermont, Tony Carlotto states of RR-3:

Appearances of this variety seem to go in spurts. A few nice specimens exist, most notably the Taylor coin in AU condition. The Cole example was XF and Dr. Smith's in the Ingle sale was VF. It was missing from Norweb, Picker, Roper, and the Four Landmark sale by Bowers and Merena. The chances of having the luxury to be picky are very slim.

To read the complete item description, see:
Outstanding RR-3 Vermont Copper (https://auctions.stacksbowers.com/lots/view/3-1T25X2/1785-vermont-copper-landscape-rr-3-bressett-2-b-w-2010-rarity-5-vermonts-au-55-pcgs)

Classic 1788 RR-30 Vermont Copper Backward C in AUCTORI Variety 1788 Vermont Copper. RR-30, Bressett 23-S, W-2225. Rarity-6-. Bust Right, Backward C in AUCTORI. VG-8 (PCGS). An unusual example of this distinct variety, one with significant positives to offset one particularly notable detraction. Among the former, we note pleasing color in warm, original, golden-brown and tobacco on surfaces that present as smooth during in-hand viewing. There is some nice gloss, as well, no significant flan flaws, and only minor planchet pitting that requires magnification to discern. Closer inspection also reveals numerous fine scratches, but these are not all that worrisome for an RR-30 at the certified VG level. The most significant detraction here is actually the strike, more specifically that on the obverse, which is off center to 3 o'clock with the entire word AUCTORI beyond the flan, including the all-important backward C. Effigy typically soft for the variety, but VERMON and the following star are bold and framed by an arc of crisp border denticulation at left. The reverse shows better, although still not perfect centering, border into the tops of the letters in ET LIB, INDE bold, seated figure fairly well outlined if overall soft, date area smooth.

RR-30 offers the only use of this obverse die (Bressett 23) in the Vermont copper series. Fewer than 30 specimens of RR-30 are known, many of which are impounded in institutional collections: ANS, Bennington Museum, ANA, Vermont Historical Society, and others. With most of the privately owned specimens in strong hands, any opportunity to acquire a relatively pleasing example such as this deserves serious bidder consideration.

To read the complete item description, see:
Classic 1788 RR-30 Vermont Copper (https://auctions.stacksbowers.com/lots/view/3-1T265E/1788-vermont-copper-rr-30-bressett-23-s-w-2225-rarity-6-bust-right-backward-c-in-auctori-vg-8-pcgs)

1787 Fugio Cent. Pointed Rays. Newman 8-X, W-6750. Rarity-3. STATES UNITED, 4 Cinquefoils. MS-64 BN (NGC). Newman Obverse State D, the middle state listed, usual Reverse State C. While the obverse break on this piece has obscured the letter N in BUSINESS, the Y in YOUR is clear, and the detail on both sides is otherwise sharp apart from a touch to softness to the rings at lower reverse. Frosty surfaces retain plenty of vivid rose-red mint color that shines forth nicely from the protected areas around the design elements. Otherwise toned in iridescent gray-brown, both sides show only partial border denticulation, but the centering is good for the type. One of the more popular die marriages of the Fugio cent for type purposes, as 189 examples of Newman 8-X remained in the Bank of New York hoard in 1948.

Provenance: From the Paul Karanfilian Collection. Earlier ex William T. Anton, Jr., May 2, 2008.