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1804 C-13 R1 Plain 4 without Stems VF20

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / US Coins Start Price:99.00 USD Estimated At:200.00 USD and UP
1804 C-13 R1 Plain 4 without Stems VF20
1804 C-13 R1 Plain 4 without Stems VF20. Tab Double Strike. Sharpness EF40 but the tab from the off center second strike was tapped down to restore the proper round shape of the half cent, and the rim opposite the tab was also flattened a bit in the process. Attractive glossy steel and light olive with subtle overtones of light bluish steel. Frosty luster covers the protected areas. This piece presents quite a challenge to figure out a logical sequence of events, but it certainly was struck more than once. It appears it was struck normally the first time but the piece failed to eject completely and the dies struck it a second time 90-95% off center leaving a tab extending off the edge. The portion of the tab over STATES has much of the BE in LIBERTY showing. However, it appears that when the tab was tapped down to restore the proper round shape of the half cent the tab folded over and the "BE" started out on the obverse side of the centered strike. Unfortunately the "BE" is retrograde when viewed as part of a tab strike (but in normal relief, not incuse) and would appear that way from either side if it was part of a tab impression. Conversely, the "BE" reads properly if it was part of a normal centered strike. Apparently there was more going on here and more than two strikes may have been involved. It also appears the obverse part of the tab was struck against a new blank planchet rather than the die as there are no traces of dentils. This is an impressive mint error, but you can hurt your head trying to figure out exactly what happened. Davy #04.13.14.
Estimated Value $200-UP.

Provenance: Ex Bob Grellman 4/13/1985 (during the EAC Convention).