The E-Sylum:  Volume 7, Number 39, September 26, 2004, Article 6

KLEEBERG ON THE NC-2 STRAWBERRY LEAF CENT

  For more information on the Strawberry Leaf cent, see the
  Proceedings of the 1996 American Numismatic Society
  Coinage of the America's Conference.  The Sheldon NC-2
  variety is being discussed; the recent discovery of the
  Parmelee coin is Sheldon variety NC-3

  "ANS curator John Kleeberg re-examined the strawberry leaf
  cents of 1793. The term "strawberry leaf" was coined by David
  Proskey, when he wrote a series of articles on large cents for
  the Coin Collector's Journal. The unique strawberry leaf cent,
  with ONE CENT low, was first found in circulation by Mr.
  Meader of Providence, RI, in 1845. He sold it to Richard
  Winsor, and Winsor lent it to be photographed for the Levick
  plate. At the Winsor sale in 1895, Crosby bought it, and he
  sold it to Dr. Thomas Hall a few months later. A particular
  thrill for the audience was that the present owner of this piece
  brought it to the conference and displayed it. Kleeberg
  reviewed the evidence, and pointed out that there are so many
  differences in the lettering of the strawberry leaf cent that it is
  clear that its letters are hand-cut, not made with punches. It is
  not a product of the United States Mint. Kleeberg argued that
  it was a counterfeit made circa 1793-95. A lively discussion
  ensued, when some members of the audience, including R. W.
  Julian, suggested that the cent might not be a counterfeit, but a
  private pattern by a coiner who did not have access to punches."

  More Info

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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