the water mustain collection of american large cents

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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: [email protected]

U.S. Numismatic ExpertsMike Printz, David Greenstein

Imaging and cataloging - Mike Printz & David Greenstein - Layout - Aaron Berk

The Walter Mustain Collectionof American Large Cents

A Collector RememberedBy 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

3

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-4Details-Graffiti PCGS

US62296-Chain,Periods,S-4,R-3.HeavilyworndeepbrownexampleofthefirstregularissueU.S.coin.Whilethedateisgone,thechainon 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

4

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.Wornwithsignificantcorrosion,thisSheldon19bhasslightlybetterdetailthentheprecedingSheldon19a.FromThe 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

5

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

6

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

7

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

8

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

9

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

10

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

11

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

12

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

13

US62326

1805 Cent VF20 - Polished

US62326-S-269,R-1.VFdetailedexamplethatwaspolishedleadingtoanunnaturalshinyfinish.FromTheWalterMustainCollection. $250

US62327

1806 Cent F12 PCGS

US62327-S-270,R-1.Originalchocolatebrownfinewithhonesttogoodnessevenwearthroughout.FromTheWalterMustainCollection. $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

14

US62329

1807/6 Cent Problems

US62329–S-273,R-1.Scarceandpopular7over6overdatewithfinedetails,astrongdatebutproblems.FromTheWalterMustainCollection. $195

US62330


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


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

15

US62332


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

16

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

17

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

18

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

19

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.Darkbrownfieldsgivesthisapleasingcirculationcameolook.FromTheWalterMustainCollection. $50

20

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

21

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

22

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,BucklingFields,N-6,R-1.DeepbrownAUwithsmoothfieldsandchoiceproblemfreesurfaces.FromTheWalterMustainCollection. $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

23

US62359


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

24

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

25

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

26

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 withsomescratchesbeingcalledgraffiti.AsanEACVF20thispieceisinthetop10oftheconditioncensus.FromTheWalterMustainCollection. $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

27

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


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

28

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


US62376 - N-9, R-1. Lovely brown UNC with hints of red around the devices. From The Walter Mustain Collection. $350

29

US62377


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


US62380 - EDS 13, N-23, R-3. Deep brown UNC with subtle pink undertones. From The Walter Mustain Collection. $350

30

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


US62382 - EDS, N-2, R-1. Lustrous UNC with pink and magenta undertones. From The Walter Mustain Collection. $250

US62383


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

31

US62385


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

32

US62388


US62388 - N-31, R-3. Lovely brown uncirculated with subtle red undertones. From The Walter Mustain Collection. $250

US62389


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

33

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


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


US62394 - EMDS, N-4, R-2. Strong mahogany UNC with pleasing clean surfaces. From The Walter Mustain Collection. $425

34

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

35

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

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

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

the water mustain collection of american large cents

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