The Water Mustain Collection of American Large Cents

Harlan J. Berk, Ltd. “The Art & Science of Numismatics”

The Walter Mustain Collection of Large Cents

August 2015

Harlan J. Berk, Ltd. “The Art & Science of Numismatics”

Tel: (312) 609-0016

31 N. Clark Street • Chicago, Illinois 60602

www.hjbltd.com

Email: info@hjbltd.com

The Walter Mustain Collection of American Large Cents U.S. Numismatic Experts Mike Printz, David Greenstein Imaging and cataloging - Mike Printz & David Greenstein - Layout - Aaron Berk

A Collector Remembered

By Tom DeLorey Walter Mustain was a numismatist of the old school, collecting coins for the fun of it and not a slave to the slab mentality. He collected large cents, which to a copper collector are meant to be held by the edge, bare fingers on bare metal, and appreciated. Walter appreciated them.

He was a frequent visitor to Harlan J. Berk, Ltd. in the 22+ years I worked there. Sometimes he would come in just to pick up a magazine, and we might chat about coins, or the weather, or the Chicago Blackhawks. The company he worked for owned a skybox at the United Center, and he occasionally shared tickets with my wife and I. He was very knowledgeable about large cent die varieties, and when I had difficulty attributing one of the vexing late dates he would take it home and attribute it himself. Eventually we arrived at an arrangement whereby I would save all of the new large cents that came in for his review, in a box, in a holder or in a small cloth bag if loose and low grade. In exchange for attributing them he would get first shot at buying anything that he needed, at good prices in recognition of the labor he provided.

This led to one amusing incident when he came in one day while I was busy on the counter, and our office manager, busy with another customer but closer to my desk, picked up the draw-string bag and literally tossed it to Walter on the other side of the counter. He stuck the bag in his jacket pocket and left.

Two days later he came in and said “DO YOU KNOW WHAT WAS IN THAT BAG BOB THREW AT ME???” I said no, of course not. What was it? It turned out to be an AG-3 example of a very rare die variety. I asked him how much he wanted to pay for it, he said $1,000, and I said fine by me. I never doubted that he would give us fair value for what we gave him, uninventoried.

He would return all coins in paper envelopes, with all but the most common or low grade coins attributed by die variety, die state if relevant, rarity factor and two grades, the commercial grade and the Early American Coppers club grade. I never found him wrong on any variety, though I recognized that his grading was old school conservative.

About ten years ago he did sell us a few hundred of his duplicates, basically coins that he had upgraded with nicer specimens. After we owned them and I had finished pricing them, using Walter’s commercial grades, I began preparing trays of them for our show windows facing the street.

As was my custom I put a small, hand-written sign that read “NEW TOYS” in the trays, to indicate that these were new purchases and that they were priced as marked until further notice.

I put these out when we opened at 9 AM, and the first three trays of Walter’s “new toys” ended with three examples of the popular 1857 date. I sold the first 1857 at 9:30, the second one around 10:00, and the third one as our lunch rush started around 11:30. At Noon the gentleman who had purchased the first one came back in to buy the other two, and I had to tell him that he was too late, pointing out the many other holes in the three trays. Walter had nice coins. I was sorry to hear from Bob this past March that Walter had passed away.

The 1000 or so coins represented in this and future offerings are Walter’s “good stuff,” the result of a lifetime of collecting. Do not be put off if many of them are not slabbed. The variety numbers are true, and the grades are reliable. They were attributed and graded by a true Coin Collector…Walter Mustain.

Walter’s Brush & Eye Loupe

US62295 1794 Half Cent VG10 PCGS US62295 - State 5, C-9, R-2. The lone Half Cent in the collection. Strong chocolate brown obverse detail with some light pitting. The reverse is well worn more so than the obverse. From The Walter Mustain Collection. $975

US62296

1793

Cent

G-4 Details - Graffiti

PCGS

US62296 - Chain, Periods, S-4, R-3. Heavily worn deep brown example of the first regular issue U.S. coin. While the date is gone, the chain on the reverse remains as well as Liberty on the obverse. From The Walter Mustain Collection. $3,250

US62297 1793 Cent AG PCGS US62297 - S-13, R-4. Well worn Liberty Cap Cent. From The Walter Mustain Collection.

$4,000

3

US62299 1794 Cent VG-8 Details PCGS US62299 - MDS, S-19a, R-5+. Quite meaty with full details though heavily corroded. All varieties of the head of 93 are considered scarce and this example is no exception. From The Walter Mustain Collection. $1,750

US62300 1794 Cent F12 Details - ED PCGS US62300 - S-19b, R-4. Worn with significant corrosion, this Sheldon 19b has slightly better detail then the preceding Sheldon 19a. From The Walter Mustain Collection. $1,500

US62301 1794 Cent F12 PCGS US62301 - Head of 1794, S-24, R-1. Deep brown with problem free surfaces. Strong obverse portrait with weakness centrally on the reverse. From The Walter Mustain Collection. $1,850

4

US62302 1794 Cent VF Details - ED PCGS US62302 - Head of 1794, S-49, R-2. Strong details on both sides though corrosion is evident throughout. From The Walter Mustain Collection. $425

US62303 1794 Cent EF Details - ED PCGS US62303 - EDS, Head of 1794, S-63, R-3. Dark brown and extremely porous. Strong XF details make this piece desirable despite the surfaces. From The Walter Mustain Collection. $1,250

US62304 1794 Cent EF Details - ED PCGS US62304 - Head of 1794, S-62, R-4+, CC-16. One of the scarcer varieties of the head of ‘94. Strong FF details with the cuds that are the highlight of the late die state of this variety. Reverse is nice and the obverse exhibits some pitting from corrosion. An EAC grade of F15 on this coin puts it in the top 10 of the condition census. From The Walter Mustain Collection. $2,350

5

US62305 1794 Cent Fine details - Cleaning PCGS US62305 - Head of 1795, S-68, R-5. Rare example of the reverse of ‘95 variety. Really interesting die crack across the center of the coin. Strong details but some indications of cleaning and light corrosion on both sides. As an EAC G-6 this is in the top 20 of the condition census. From The Walter Mustain Collection. $2,000

US62306 1795 Cent AG - Rim Bump US62306 - Lettered Edge, S-74, R-3. Deep brown with a strong date and clear outline of the central portrait. From The Walter Mustain Collection. $250

US62307 1796 Cent VG Details - Tooled PCGS US62307 - S-82, R-5. Solid VG with a hint of light corrosion. From The Walter Mustain Collection.

$350

6

US62308 1797 Cent VG-8 - Light pitting US62308 – Plain Edge, S-137, R-2. Strong VG details with the light pitting characteristic of many coppers of this era. From The Walter Mustain Collection. $250

US62309 1797 Cent VF35 PCGS US62309 - Reverse of 1797, Stems, EDS, S-134, R-4. Medium brown with extremely nice original surfaces. Lightly circulated. As an EAC VF20 this is in the top 20 of the condition census. From The Walter Mustain Collection. $3,250

US62310 1798 Cent First Hair Style, Terminal Die State US62310 - First Hair Style, Terminal Die State, S-153, R-3. Pleasing pleasing VG example. This piece is a late die state example exhibiting the cud in front of the bust. From The Walter Mustain Collection. $225

7

US62311 1798 Cent VF30 PCGS US62311 - 2nd Hair Style, S-179, R-2. Lovely and original medium brown with a fantastic overall look. From The Walter Mustain Collection. $950

US62312 1798 Cent EF Details - Rim Damage PCGS US62312 - 2nd Hair Style, S-184, R-1. Strongly detailed example with a few rim hits. Beautiful central devices. From The Walter Mustain Collection. $600

US62313 1799 Cent VG10 PCGS US62313 - LDS, S-189, R-2. The highlight of Walter’s set. Strong VG with smooth light brown and orange brown surfaces. Truly fantastic problem free example of this key date. From The Walter Mustain Collection. $11,000

8

US62314 1800/1798 Cent AU Details - ED PCGS US62314 - LDS, S-191, R-3. Strong example of this popular overdate. All details are clear and strong with just a hint of corrosion leading to the details grade. As an EAC VF25 this example is in the top 10 of the condition census. From The Walter Mustain Collection. $4,000

US62315 1800 Cent VG-8 US62315 - VLDS, S-211, R-3. Well circulated with a strong outline on the central portrait. From The Walter Mustain Collection.

$175

US62316 1801 Cent EF Details - Altered Surface PCGS US62316 – S-216, R-1. Strong details on both sides of this early cent. Surfaces have been smoothed to hide some corrosion. From The Walter Mustain Collection. $450

9

US62317 1801 Cent F12 - Pitted US62317 – 1/000, S-223, R-1. Fine details on this popular 1/000 fraction variety. From The Walter Mustain Collection.

$150

US62318 1802 Cent EF Details - Cleaning PCGS US62318 - LDS, S-239, R-3. Strong XF details with some light cleaning. Really neat die crack on the obverse. From The Walter Mustain Collection. $500

US62319 1802 Cent AU53 PCGS US62319 - EDS, S-225, R-3. Rich chocolate brown with only this lightest amounts of wear leading to the AU grade. Pleasing surfaces with a hint of mint luster. As an EAC XF40, this example is in the top 15 of the condition census. From The Walter Mustain Collection. $2,850

10

US62320 1802 Cent EF Details - Devices Re-engraved PCGS US62320 - S-233, R-2. Nicely detailed XF with a cut in the hair PCGS called re-engraved devices. From The Walter Mustain Collection. $300

US62321 1802 Cent VF Details - Scratch PCGS

US62321 - LDS, S-238, R-4. Nicely detailed VF obverse with a gnarly scratch at 12 o’clock on the reverse. From The Walter Mustain Collection. $400

US62322 1803 Cent VF20 - Scratch US62322 – S-247, R-3. Nicely detailed VF example with a scratch cutting across Liberty’s neck. From The Walter Mustain Collection. $225

11

US62323 1803 Cent VF30 PCGS US62323 - Small Date, Sm Frac, S-250, R-2. Pleasing problem free choice VF with smooth original surfaces. From The Walter Mustain Collection. $650

US62324 1804 Cent AG PCGS US62324 – S-266, R-2. Heavily circulated example of this key date date. Often times these are seen with very weak devices and a weak date. This has a full date. From The Walter Mustain Collection. $1,500

US62325 1805 Cent VF30 PCGS

US62325 - S-267, R-1. Pleasing mahogany brown with light, honest wear making this a truly desirable VF. From The Walter Mustain Collection. $895

12

US62326 1805 Cent VF20 - Polished US62326 - S-269, R-1. VF detailed example that was polished leading to an unnatural shiny finish. From The Walter Mustain Collection. $250

US62327 1806 Cent F12 PCGS US62327 - S-270, R-1. Original chocolate brown fine with honest to goodness even wear throughout. From The Walter Mustain Collection. $400

US62328 1807 Cent VF Details - Damage PCGS US62328 - Comet, S-271, R-1. Attractive VF example of this popular “Comet” variety. The comet refers to the die break behind Liberty’s head that looks like the tail of a comet. Some well hidden damage at 12 o clock. From The Walter Mustain Collection. $600

13

US62329 1807/6 Cent Problems US62329 – S-273, R-1. Scarce and popular 7 over 6 overdate with fine details, a strong date but problems. From The Walter Mustain Collection. $195

US62330 1809 Cent VF Details - ED PCGS US62330 – S-280, R-2. Orange brown surfaces on the obverse with a deeper brown reverse. Both sides exhibit some corrosion. From The Walter Mustain Collection. $450

US62331 1810 Cent VF Details - ED PCGS US62331 - S-285, R-2. Nice VF details but a fair amount of corrosion leading to the designation. From The Walter Mustain Collection. $200

14

US62332 1812 Cent VF Details - ED PCGS US62332 - Small Date, S-290, R-1. Strong VF details but pitting on both sides indicative of corrosion. From The Walter Mustain Collection. $400

US62333 1813 Cent AU Details - Cleaning PCGS US62333 - S-293, R-2. Very pleasing AU with orange brown and medium brown surfaces. Some light cleaning keeps this coin from being truly fantastic. From The Walter Mustain Collection. $1,850

US62334 1814 Cent VF25 PCGS US62334 – Crosslet 4, S-294, R-1. Deep brown VF with excellent smooth surfaces. From The Walter Mustain Collection.

$750

15

US62336 1817 Cent AU50 Burnished US62336 - MDS, 13 Stars, N-6, R-1. Strong detailed AU that was burnished at some point. From The Walter Mustain Collection. $175

US62338 1819 Cent VF20 US62338 - Small Date, N-7, R-4. Deep brown with problem free VF surfaces. From The Walter Mustain Collection.

$175

US62339 1820 Cent VF20 US62339 - N-11, R-2. Nice VF details with slightly unnatural color from cleaning. From The Walter Mustain Collection.

$60

16

US62340 1821 Cent EF40 Details - Improperly Cleaned NGC US62340 - EDS, N-2, R-1. Dark brown and meaty example of this semi-key date that was lightly cleaned. From The Walter Mustain Collection. $600

US62341 1822 Cent VF20 US62341 - N-11, R-2. Dark brown, pleasing VF. From The Walter Mustain Collection.

$125

US62342 1825 Cent VF25 US62342 - N-8, R-3. Medium brown problem free choice VF. From The Walter Mustain Collection.

$135

17

US62344 1828 Cent VF20 US62344 - N-10, R-1. Deep brown with pleasing VF surfaces. From The Walter Mustain Collection.

$95

US62346 1830 Cent EF40 US62346 - N-1, R-1. Medium brown XF with a small hint of original luster. From The Walter Mustain Collection.

$200

US62347 1831 Cent VF35 US62347 – LDS, N-1, R-1. Mahogany with subtle blue undertones. Pleasing choice VF. From The Walter Mustain Collection. $100

18

US62348 1833 Cent EF40 US62348 - N-3, R-1. Pleasant medium brown and a fantastic overall type coin. From The Walter Mustain Collection.

$135

US62349 1834 Cent VF20 US62349 - MDS, N-2, R-1. Nice, milk chocolate brown circulated example. From The Walter Mustain Collection.

$75

US62350 1835 Cent VF20 US62350 - N-16, R-2. Dark brown fields gives this a pleasing circulation cameo look. From The Walter Mustain Collection. $50

19

US62351 1836 Cent VF20 Rim Break - Scratch PCGS US62351 - N-6, R-2. Medium brown with a neat die break at 12 o’clock. From The Walter Mustain Collection.

$50

US62345 1837 Cent AU58 PCGS US62345 - MDS, Head of 1838, S-9, R-1. Lovely mahogany with only the smallest indications of wear. Nice luster and surfaces. From The Walter Mustain Collection. $425

US62352 1838 Cent AU55 US62352 - N-5, R-1. Rich cherry wood brown example of this transitional date. From The Walter Mustain Collection.

$235

20

US62353 1839 Cent AU55 PCGS US62353 - Head of 1838, N-3, R-1. Orange brown AU with only the smallest hints of wear. From The Walter Mustain Collection. $350

US62354 1839 Cent EF45 US62354 - Type of 38, N-2, R-2. Another transitional type with the old head design of 1838. Hints of red undertone hide beneath the medium brown. From The Walter Mustain Collection. $200

US62355 1839 Cent AU58 PCGS

US62355 - Booby Head, N-6, R-2. Super slider with perky orange brown surfaces. From The Walter Mustain Collection.

$650

21

US62356 1840 Cent MS62 Brown PCGS US62356 - N-8, R-1. Deep chocolate brown with a fair amount of original mint luster. From The Walter Mustain Collection.

$600

US62357 1841 Cent AU50 US62357 - LDS, Buckling Fields, N-6, R-1. Deep brown AU with smooth fields and choice problem free surfaces. From The Walter Mustain Collection. $225

US62358 1841 Cent AU55 US62358 - EDS, N-2a, R-2. Chocolate brown with only the slightest hints of wear. Early die state example. From The Walter Mustain Collection. $250

22

US62359 1842 Cent MS63 Brown PCGS US62359 - LDS, Large Date, N-3, R-3. Medium brown with slight blue undertones. Slight original mint luster lead to this examples mint state grade. From The Walter Mustain Collection. $1,300

US62360 1843 Cent AU53 US62360 - EDS, Petite Head, Small Letters, N-15, R-3. Transitional type with the petite head and small letters. Very little wear and hickory colored surfaces. From The Walter Mustain Collection. $200

US62361 1844 Cent AU58 PCGS US62361 - LDS, Rim Break, N-3, R-2. Pleasing orange brown slider with only a slight hint of wear. From The Walter Mustain Collection. $350

23

US62362 1845 Cent AU55 PCGS US62362- MDS, N-8, R-1, C-14. Medium purple brown with hints of original mint red in the protected areas. Wear is present only on the highest areas of detail. From The Walter Mustain Collection. $200

US62363 1845 Cent AU58 US62363 - N-6, R-2. Braided Hair Large Cent, 1845-1¢, AU58, N-6, R-2. From The Walter Mustain Collection.

$200

US62364 1845 Cent AU58 US62364 - EDS, N-9, R-2. Choice AU with various shades of brown, orange and purple undertones. From The Walter Mustain Collection. $200

24

US62365 1846 Cent AU58 PCGS US62365 - EDS, Small Date, N-1, R-1. Hershey chocolate brown with original mint luster and only slight wear on the highest points. From The Walter Mustain Collection. $250

US62366 1846 Cent AU55 US62366 - MDS, Small Date, N-7, R-2. Mahogany brown AU with bits of luster in the protected areas. From The Walter Mustain Collection. $135

US62367 1846 Cent AU55 PCGS US62367 - EDS, N-17, R-4. Braided Hair Large Cent, 1846-1¢, AU55, EDS, N-17, R-4, PCGS. From The Walter Mustain Collection. $225

25

US62368 1846 Cent AU Details - Damaged PCGS US62368 - LDS, Terminal die w/obverse cud over star 7, N-21, R-5. Rare late die state example of the N-21 variety. Nice AU details with some scratches being called graffiti. As an EAC VF20 this piece is in the top 10 of the condition census. From The Walter Mustain Collection. $750

US62369 1846 Cent AU58 US62369 - EDS, Small Date, N-6b, R-1. Cherry wood brown with slight red undertones. Fantastic surfaces and just a hint of wear. From The Walter Mustain Collection. $200

US62370 1847 Cent AU50 Scratch US62370 - EDS, N-1b, R-1. Lovely maple brown with excellent detail and hints of luster. From The Walter Mustain Collection. $100

26

US62371 1847 Cent AU53 US62371 - Intermediate State, MDS, N-26c, R-3, C33. Orange brown with hints of luster. From The Walter Mustain Collection. $135

US62372 1847 Cent AU50 Small digs rev.

US62372 - LDS, 7/Small 7, N-31d, R-5. Scarce 7 over 7 variety. Dark chocolate brown with smooth surfaces but some deep hits on the reverse. From The Walter Mustain Collection. $350

US62373 1847 Cent MS63 Brown PCGS US62373 - N-21, R-1. Beautiful clay colored uncirculated example with an awful lot of red for a brown coin. From The Walter Mustain Collection. $500

27

US62374 1848 Cent Unc. Details - Quest. color PCGS US62374 - N-1, R-1. Lustrous uncirculated example with an unnatural red color. From The Walter Mustain Collection.

$150

US62375 1848 Cent AU55 PCGS US62375 - Intermediate State, N-4, R-4. Beautiful mahogany AU with just the smallest hints of wear. From The Walter Mustain Collection. $400

US62376 1848 Cent MS62 Brown PCGS US62376 - N-9, R-1. Lovely brown UNC with hints of red around the devices. From The Walter Mustain Collection.

$350

28

US62377 1848 Cent MS62 Brown PCGS US62377 - N-10, R-3. Milk chocolate brown with a fair amount of original mint luster. From The Walter Mustain Collection.

$350

US62379 1849 Cent AU50 US62379 - Ex Newcomb. Very Early State, N-11, R-1. Lightly worn AU with deep brown surfaces and magenta and pink undertones. From The Walter Mustain Collection. $125

US62380 1849 Cent MS61 Brown PCGS US62380 - EDS 13, N-23, R-3. Deep brown UNC with subtle pink undertones. From The Walter Mustain Collection.

$350

29

US62381 1849 Cent Unc. Details - Damage PCGS

US62381 - N-16, R-6. Extremely scarce N-16 variety. Dark chocolate brown with some scratches behind the head labeled as tooled. As an EAC XF40 this is in the top 20 of the condition census. From The Walter Mustain Collection. $250

US62382 1850 Cent MS62 Brown PCGS US62382 - EDS, N-2, R-1. Lustrous UNC with pink and magenta undertones. From The Walter Mustain Collection.

$250

US62383 1850 Cent MS62 Brown PCGS US62383 - LDS, N-7, R-2. Intense brown with original luster and some lighter areas around the devices. From The Walter Mustain Collection. $250

30

US62385 1851 Cent MS63 Brown PCGS US62385 - N-2, R-1. Mahogany brown and lustrous with clean surfaces and an excellent overall look. From The Walter Mustain Collection. $300

US62386 1851 Cent MS60 Details - Improperly Cleaned PCGS US62386 - Popular 1851/81 variety, EDS, N-3, R-1. Intense magenta brown with some light indications of cleaning. From The Walter Mustain Collection. $400

US62387 1851 Cent AU50 US62387 - EDS, N-16, R-3. Pleasing clay red brown AU. From The Walter Mustain Collection.

$125

31

US62388 1851 Cent MS62 Brown PCGS US62388 - N-31, R-3. Lovely brown uncirculated with subtle red undertones. From The Walter Mustain Collection.

$250

US62389 1851 Cent MS63 Brown PCGS US62389- N-38, R-1. Rich mahogany brown with original mint luster. From The Walter Mustain Collection.

$300

US62391 1852 Cent AU58 PCGS US62391 - N-6, R-2. Chocolate brown slider with only the slightest hints of wear. From The Walter Mustain Collection.

$175

32

US62392 1852 Cent AU58 PCGS US62392 - EMDS, N-14, R-1. Mahogany brown slider with only a small hint of wear on the highest points. From The Walter Mustain Collection. $175

US62393 1853 Cent MS63 Brown PCGS US62393 - N-12, R-1. Lovely milk chocolate brown with some original red peaking through the protected areas of the reverse. From The Walter Mustain Collection. $300

US62394 1854 Cent MS64 Brown PCGS US62394 - EMDS, N-4, R-2. Strong mahogany UNC with pleasing clean surfaces. From The Walter Mustain Collection.

$425

33

US62395 1855 Cent AU58 PCGS US62395 - N-7, R-1. Cherry wood brown slider with clean surfaces. From The Walter Mustain Collection.

$175

US62397 1856 Cent MS60 Pitted US62397 - N-18, R-1. Strong uncirculated details but some evidence of corrosion. From The Walter Mustain Collection.

$120

US62398 1856 Cent AU58 PCGS US62398 - EDS, N-22, R-5. Pleasing slider with medium chocolate brown surfaces. As an N-22, this is the rarest of the Slanted 5 varieties of the date. Ex:Hettger. As an EAC XF40 it is in the top 10 of the condition census. From The Walter Mustain Collection. $1,200

34

US62399 1857 Cent AU58 PCGS

US62399 - EDS, N-2, R-1. Popular slider example of the last date of Large Cents. From The Walter Mustain Collection.

$250

US62400 1857 Cent AU Details, Cleaned PCGS US62400 - N-4, R-1. Strong AU details but cleaned at some point. From The Walter Mustain Collection.

$225

To view additional coins from the Mustain collection not pictured in this catalog click below.

Additional Walter Mustain Collection of American Large Cents

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Harlan J. Berk Ltd. 31 North Clark Street, Chicago, IL. 60602 | 312-609-0018 | www.hjbltd.com Dealers in ancient coins, antiquities, U.S. coins, paper money, autographs, and bullion

31 North Clark Street, Chicago, IL. 60602 | 312-609-0016 | www.hjbltd.com Dealers in U.S. & world coins, paper money, ancient coins, antiquities & antique maps