(1795) 1/2 P North Wales, 2 Stars, BN MS(PCGS#776)

August 2023 Global Showcase Auction U.S. Coins

拍卖行

Stack's Bowers

批号

6029

等级

VF25BN

价格

27,962

详细说明

A Second Rare Washington North Wales Halfpenny Variety Four Stars Reverse Undated (1795) Washington North Wales Halfpenny. Musante GW-52, Baker-35, W-11190. Four Stars (a.k.a. Two Stars at Each Side of Harp). Brass. Plain Edge. VF-25 (PCGS). Pleasing mid-grade quality for this elusive and challenging type. In-hand inspection reveals a generally smooth, predominantly deep olive-brown piece. A swirl of darker color on the obverse is associated with a bit of ancient surface scale, although it is out of the way at the lower left border and does not interfere with appreciation of Washington's portrait. Scattered marks are mostly faint and easily overlooked, a small nick before Washington's mouth and a few even lighter marks in the center of the reverse noted solely for accuracy. The generally uneven appearance is typical of the issue. As noted previously in this sale, the North Wales coppers were made to look rugged, old and worn. When the Four Stars variant was struck, the obverse die had failed fairly seriously, so these tend to look a bit rougher than the Lettered Edge and Plain Edge Two Stars pieces. The offered example is particularly choice and though the detail is weak in places, this too is as expected for the issue. Similar in overall quality to the Sydney F. Martin specimen, PCGS VF-25, that realized $3,600 in our Winter 2022 Auction. As noted in the description for the Lettered Edge variant offered in a previous lot, Sylvester Crosby published in his 1875 The Early Coins of Americathat this variety featuring four reverse stars was unique, represented by only that in his own collection. Nearly a century later, George Fuld stated that just six were known when he published his 1965 revision of Baker's reference on Washington medals. By 1999, that estimate had been revised to seven or eight. Though the number has climbed over the years, it has slowed in growth dramatically, suggesting that the true number extant is indeed quite small. It is probably realistically 12 to 15 pieces, and the same is likely true of the Lettered Edge variant. With the quality and eye appeal offered here, this is a prize for the specialist. PCGS# 776. NGC ID: CVTL. Click here for certification details from PCGS. Image with the PCGS TrueView logo is obtained from and is subject to a license agreement with Collectors Universe, Inc. and its divisions PCGS and PSA.