 1844 '18' Repunched South. Brilliant Proof, and approaching Choice. The repunching is faint and does not match any reported in the Wiley-Bugert reference. There is a distinct thin line below the post of the '1' and a clear arc to the left of the lower loop of the 8. Perhaps this obverse die was lapped, removing the repunching prior to coining circulation strikes, if the obverse die was used at all after coining Proofs. A reflective coin with light gold and gray intermixed, and attractive despite being somewhat dull. The surfaces show minor hairlines from a past cleaning, There is a small toning spot in the upper right portion of the 'M' of AMERICA, and another small speck on the upper right edge of the eagle's wing.
Die file lines extend in from the denticles a short distance toward star four nearly to star six, and the obverse has die file lines up from the rim near the left foot of Liberty in the small field connecting to the rocky base right of the date, a few touching her toes. A shallow lintmark resides over the post of the first '4' on the center raised fold of Liberty's dress. Heavy die file lines are present under the left wing of the eagle, some extending upward from its back or thigh, others located in the crook of the wing in the field. Other die file lines are seen within the vertical shield stripes on the left side, and the die is not polished between the olive berries or the bottom two arrowheads. Die file lines extend from the rim to the 'ME' of AMERICA and there is a spur extending up from the eagle into the field slightly straight above the left upper point of the shield.
Breen estimates that five are known, one of which resides in the Smithsonian Institution. Lacking from the Pittman, Eliasberg, Norweb, Pryor, Hawn, Starr and even the Queller Collections. Breen mentions two as cleaned, also stating the Brand-Gustav Lichtenfels coin is ''impaired,'' although this could be the present specimen, or one of those cleaned long ago and now recovered. The fact that no Proof 1844 Half Dollar was included in these major collections of the past three generations is telling. An extraordinary opportunity to purchase what may be one of the rarest Proof issues of the decade.
Ex Stack's Auction, September 1993, lot 358.
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