The E-Sylum:  Volume 7, Number 39, September 26, 2004, Article 5

PARMELEE STRAWBERRY LEAF CENT FOUND

  John Kraljevich of American Numismatic Rarities writes:
  "After 60+ years, the Parmelee Strawberry Leaf has come
  back to light. It's the finest of 4 known Strawberries (the
  unique NC-2 and 3 NC-3s) by a factor of 2: the Condition
  Census is 7-3-3-2.

  The piece was first offered in an 1877 Scott sale, then was
  sold in the Parmelee sale, which was its last auction
  appearance. The piece was owned by Dr. Hall and Virgil
  Brand, then was sold to a Mr. Staples in 1941 for $2,750 by
  James Kelly. A few months earlier, B.G. Johnson had
  purchased a group of no less than 17 choice 1793 cents,
  all of which were Condition Census. All 5 1793 NC
  varieties then known were included in that single purchase
  from the Brand collection.

  The coin is still with the original 1941 envelope marked
  $2,750. The piece has remained in the same family until
  now, hidden from sight for years. Mr. Staples, the last
  owner of record, was killed in action in 1943 in the Solomon
  Islands, and he was posthumously awarded the Silver Star
  for his service there.

  Of course, the whole story will be told in great detail in the
  November 2004 ANR sale catalogue. The sale itself will be
  held in Baltimore November 30-December 1.  If you weren't
  at the Starr sale in 1984, this might be the first time in most
  of our lifetimes we've had the chance to bid on a Strawberry
  Leaf cent.

  The coin has been certified by NGC at the request of the
  owners of the coin (as F-12). We're thrilled to be chosen to
  handle this piece!

  If folks need more information about the auction, I can be
  reached at johnk at anrcoins.com."

  [An article about the coin's rediscovery was published early
  Tuesday evening on the Associated Press wire and posted
  on the web site of Maine Today.  The article was datelined
  Auburn, Maine.  Here are some excerpts:

  "A 1700s penny that´s nearly the size of a half dollar and if
  authentic could be worth a fortune surfaced in a jewelry
  and coin shop.

  The 1793 coin is known by the "strawberry leaf" name
  because of a trefoil sprig on its tail side."

  "The coin was in the possession of the owner´s family since
  1941, when it was purchased by a collector for $2,750..."

  To read the full story, see:
  Full Story

  This article in the Boston Herald has an image of the coin:
  Boston Herald Story

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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