Large Cents 1797 S-132 R5+ Stemless Wreath, Reverse of 1797, XF

Large Cents
1797 S-132 R5+ Stemless Wreath, Reverse of 1797, XF Detail, Repaired, PCGS. Glossy mix of medium chocolate and lighter chocolate brown; possibly cleaned and retoned. The surfaces are smooth and the cent is quite attractive, but there are numerous tiny marks scattered over both sides. The notable ones are a small planchet chip in the hair at the back of the head (as struck), a fine vertical scratch along the right edge of the E in STATES, and a small dig just right of the adjacent S. I can't find any evidence of a "repair" as claimed on the PCGS label; perhaps they meant "cleaned." LDS, Breen state II, with at least 5 dentils fused by a rim break over IC in AMERICA. The obverse of this cent is plated in Dr. Sheldon's Early American Cents and Penny Whimsy, and both sides are plated in the 2000 Breen encyclopedia to illustrate the die variety. Graded VF35 net VF30 by Del Bland and CC#2 in his census. Noyes says VF35 net VF25 and CC#2, his photo #24286. This cataloger's EAC grade is VF25. A very important cent that comes with a great provenance. The attribution and Husak Collection provenance are noted on the PCGS Gold Shield label. Three highest graded at PCGS: 1 in 3, 1 in 6, 1 in 8. 35984.98/40135451.
Ex Howard R. Newcomb, J. C. Morgenthau #458 2/1945:157-Judge Thomas L. Gaskill 1945-Dr. William H. Sheldon 4/19/1972-R. E. Naftzger, Jr. 2/1975-Denis Loring-R. S. Brown, Jr., Superior 9/30/1986:188-Dr. Philip W. Ralls-Ralls Estate, McCawley & Grellman Auctions/Goldbergs 1/26/2014:452-Walter J. Husak Collection.

Howard Rounds Newcomb is most widely known today for his reference on the later-date large cents from 1816 to 1857, though he was a collector of the early cents and other denominations as well. Newcomb was born in Detroit on December 21, 1877, and died on January 7, 1945, in Los Angeles. He was manager of a Detroit department store called Newcomb, Endicott & Co. He collected and wrote about several series including silver dollars, with articles about die varieties published in The Numismatist. His collections of half dimes and dimes were exhibited at the ANS in 1914. He also displayed, from time to time, collections of quarter eagles (117 varieties), three cent silver pieces, and proof quarters from 1796 to 1840. Newcomb was the author of United States Copper Cents, 1816-1857 published in 1944, The United States Cents of the Years 1801-1802-1803 published in 1925, and the co-author with George Clapp of The United States Cents of the Years 1795-1796-1797-1800, published in 1947.
From The Collections of Walter J. Husak and The Liberty Cap Foundation.

https://coins.ha.com/itm/large-cents/1797-s-132-r5-stemless-wreath-reverse-of-1797-xf-detail-repaired-pcgs/a/1370-2120.s?type=DA-DMC-CoinArchives-USCoins-1370-01042024

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