3125

1796 10C MS66 NGC. JR-4, R.4, although not attributed 1796[10C] MS66 NGC.

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / US Coins Start Price:11,000.00 USD Estimated At:1.00 - 1,000,000.00 USD
1796 10C MS66 NGC. JR-4, R.4, although not attributed 1796[10C] MS66 NGC.
<B>1796<10C> MS66 NGC.</B></I> JR-4, R.4, although not attributed as such on the NGC holder. This very scarce variety accounts for about 10% of the 1796 dimes encountered, according to the standard reference. On the obverse BERTY is closely spaced, with ER very close and TY touching. Star eight is far from the L, and star one is far from the curls. The 1796 is progressively closer from left to right, with the 9 close to the 6 and the 6 nearly touching the bust. On the reverse there are 17 leaves left (facing) and 13 right, with leaves touching the third E and second I in the legend. There is a leaf tip under the right side of the first A, but none under the third T. The right upright of N is recut at the top, and AME nearly touch. The left eagle's wing touches the rock.<BR> This incredible specimen shows the obvious pride of workmanship present at the Philadelphia Mint for this first issue of Federal dimes. The fields show prooflike tendencies under the lovely, consistent sea-green and aqua toning that nestles in the peripheries, with silver-gray highpoints. The strike is bold, with all stars sporting their centrils. Liberty's hair is highly sculptural, with each strand of hair outlined and bold all along its length. The vertical line that marks the iris of Liberty's eye is plain, as are all drapery lines. There is a bold separation of the hair from the forehead. On the reverse, the eagle's breast and wings show pleasing feather detail. There is a clear delineation between the eagle's toes and the claws beneath. Close perusal under a glass reveals a small tick on the drapery and a couple of light scrapes in the right obverse field, none of them distracting or indeed even noticeable without magnification. Wispy die cracks join two of the points of star one with the drapery, while a third crack connects a third point to the rim. The reverse is essentially free of mentionable distractions. Even though a handful of other coins may grade technically as fine, it is highly doubtful that any of them surpass this coin in terms of overall appeal. NGC's <I>Census Report</B></I> records nine examples of the 1796 dime (all varieties) in MS66, with one coin (the finest known, a JR-4 in MS67) graded finer. If this had been attributed as a JR-4, it would rank as the only example in MS66, and the second finest known (11/05).