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1799/8 S-188 R4 Overdate 9 over 8 AG3

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / US Coins Start Price:500.00 USD Estimated At:1,000.00 USD and UP
1799/8 S-188 R4 Overdate 9 over 8 AG3
1799/8 S-188 R4 Overdate 9 over 8 AG3. Sharpness G6 but there is a large and rather deep dent or series of closely-spaced dents on the reverse at F-A extending down to the E in ONE. These dents were strong enough to create a bulge at the opposing area above the tip of the bust. There are a few additional contact marks on both sides but they are not significant at this grade level. The surfaces are decent but not perfectly smooth as fine roughness covers the fields and protected areas on both sides. The date is complete except for the bottom of the 7, and the overdate remains visible. The legends are easily readable except for the first A in AMERICA, which was obliterated by the strong marks in that area. Slightly glossy dark steel and olive with lighter steel brown and chocolate toning covering the highpoints. This cent comes with an important story. It was attributed by Dick Punchard as the extremely rare 1799 NC-1 die variety shortly after he purchased it for $40 as an unattributed 1799 cent in Sarasota, Florida, on 2/17/1977. This attribution was confirmed by Del Bland who graded it G5 net AG3 and he included the listing in his census of known examples contained in Walter Breen's Encyclopedia of United States Large Cents 1793-1814. Likewise, Bill Noyes confirmed this as an NC-1 and listed it in his census as VG7 net Fair-2, his photo #25536. In their defense, the usual attribution point for the NC-1 variety was completely obliterated by the damage. Nonetheless, the coin was accepted as an NC-1 and sold to Dan Holmes by Dick Punchard for $6500 on 10/25/1991. Several years later Bob Grellman examined the coin while preparing lot descriptions for the eventual sale of Dan's primary collection (see our 4 Holmes sales of 2009 and 2010) and concluded the cent was the more-common S-188 variety. This placed Dan in the unenviable position of needing to fill the very difficult NC-1 hole in his collection. Fortunately the finest known example became available in the Wes Rasmussen sale in January 2005, and Dan was able to acquire it to fill the hole. Comes with the original Punchard collection envelope annotated by Dan Holmes plus an attribution and grading card prepared by Del Bland on 6/22/92 confirming this as the NC-1 die variety graded G5 net AG3. Holmes #1743.
Estimated Value $1,000-UP.

Provenance: Ex Scott's, Sarasota, Florida 2/17/77 (unattributed)-Dick Punchard 10/25/91-Dan Holmes Collection, later transferred to his "Fun Set".