THE BROBSTON COLLECTION OF UNITED STATES HALF CENTS

A specialized price list, covering an outstanding collection of United States half cents was issued in 1963. It featured the collection of Joseph Brobston of Nazareth, Pennsylvania, formed over close to a half a century. Many collections of this caliber and completeness had been formerly offered at public auction by Stack's. However, it was Mr. Brobston's request when we purchased this impressive half cent collection, that we endeavor to sell it intact to a single collector

The negotiations for the collection were handled by my uncle Joseph B. Stack and my father Morton Stack. Both were close friends of Joseph Brobston and they had a relationship of trust and friendship between them. After the deal was concluded on the telephone, I was dispatched to Nazareth to pick up the collection. Of course, in those days you didn’t find the coins housed in sealed plastic holders, but Mr. Brobston had them stored in old-fashioned 5 x 8 loose-leaf pages. These he hand-lettered to show the date and variety, and sometimes a special note about the specimen. He always wanted to be able to remove a coin from its holder and examine it up close. In that way he could study varieties and admire the beauty that copper reveals when examined under incandescent light. The closeness he felt to his coins cannot be fully described, but it was evident that a bond existed between him and each coin he possessed

During that period in 1963 there were a number of copper coin collectors in the hobby, many had formed outstanding collections of both half cents and large cents. The Brobston Collection was the envy of most of them.

There were 50 Proof coins, including the 1811 and 1852 Original. Many others were in choice Mint State, highlighted by the 1796 With Pole. We suggested that collectors who simply wanted to acquire a perfect example of this denomination, could readily achieve their goal through this collection. In the price list we remarked "each piece described is a single specimen, and that as many alternates selections as possible should be included with each order." The response was unbelievable, and we did our upmost to satisfy each request.

According to the records available at the time, the collection was virtually complete. Among the highlights it had five 1793's, 13 1794's, 15 1795's, both 1796's with the Pole to Cap in Gem Mint State, and eight 1797's, From 1800 to 1857 it included virtually all varieties known, highlighted by 1811 Proof, l831 Original, three First Restrikes and one Second Restrike all in Proof. Virtually all the Proof varieties from 1832 to 1857, Originals and Restrikes, were there, highlighted by an 1852 G-1 Large Berries Proof. It would have been a difficult assemblage to duplicate!

Harvey adds:

To read the complete article, see: A 1963 Specialized Price List (www.stacksbowers.com/NewsMedia/Blogs/TabId/780/ArtMID/2678/ArticleID/64325/A-1963-Specialized-Price-List.aspx)

Wayne Homren, Editor

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