Gammill Coin Gazette

Ira and Larry Goldberg’s auction of the Dan Holmes collection of Large Cents, in collaboration with Chris McCawley and Bob Grellman, will offer the large cent collector an opportunity to bid on a total of 68 NC varieties.  There are 55 NC varieties recognized by collectors and Dan was able to assemble 54 of the 55.  The one missing from his collection is the unique (1795 NC -5) which is located in the American Numismatic Societies Museum in NYC. 

In Dan’s collection of NC varieties there are 14 coins where there are duplicates.  Several of those NC varieties are of considerable interest and value.  For example, Lots 77 and 78 are examples of the 1794 NC-9, R7+.  Lot 77 is net graded Good-5 but the reverse vertical die crack is very weak (EDS, Breen state 1).  In the case of Lot 78, net graded About Good-3, the sharpness is slightly better and the reverse die crack is very strong indicating its LDS.  There are only four known examples of the 1794 NC-9 variety, two of which are in Holmes’ auction.  The census of these four examples are, 7-6-5-3.  The estimated value of these two lots is in the $20,000 range.  The VG-6 example was sold in February 2008 by Superior Galleries for $36,500.

Lots 129 and 130 offer two examples of the Jefferson Head 1795 NC-1, R8+.  Lot 129 is the “Unique” Thick Planchet Jefferson Head with Lettered Edge of 1793.   One of only three examples of the 1795 NC-1 and the only one struck on a thick planchet.  Graded by PCGS as Fine-15 and by McCawley/Grellman as Fine-12.  Estimated value for Lot 129 is $50,000.  Lot 130 is the thin planchet example of the NC-1 of which there are only two known examples.  Lot 130 grades as a Fair-2 with an estimated value of $20,000.  The second example has a grade of VF-20.

Lots 132 and 133 are also a pair of Jefferson Head NCs.  Lot 132 is the 1795 “Unique” Jefferson Head NC-4 (R8+) Thick Planchet Overstruck on a 1795 NC-1.  The coin is holed at the top of the head but is the second finer of only two known for the variety and grades Fair-2.  It is also unique that it is overstruck on an NC-1 thick planchet!  This varieties estimated value is $20,000 and UP.  This is truly a unique specimen.  Lot 133 is another “Unique” Jefferson Head NC-4.  This Jefferson Head is struck on a Thin Lettered Edge Planchet and grades Good-5.  The estimated value of this NC-4 is $30,000.

There is also Lots 394 and 395.  Lot 394 features an Outstanding 1800 NC-4 EDS.  It is the finest known of eight examples in all die states.  It grades EF-40 and is the Noyes plate coin.  Estimated value is $20,000.  Lot 395 is the 1800 NC-4 in MDS and grades Fair-2.  Estimated value is $4,000.

A complete listing of the NC varieties is listed in the table below.  It offers a unique opportunity for the large cent specialist.

Table:  A listing of the NC varieties in the Dan Holmes Collection being offered by Ira and Larry Goldberg on September 6, 2009.