LOT Old Heritage Auctions  /  2008 February Long Beach Signature Coin #460  / 

2286

1810 1C Overdate. AU50, Scratched, Cleaned,

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / US Coins Start Price:850.00 USD Estimated At:1.00 - 1,000,000.00 USD
1810 1C Overdate. AU50, Scratched, Cleaned,
<B>1810 1C Overdate. AU50, Scratched, Cleaned, ANACS. S-281, B-1, R.1. </B></I> <B>Our EAC Grade VF30.</B></I><BR><BR><B>Equivalents. </B></I>Proskey 1; Doughty 211; McGirk 1A; Clapp 1; EAC 1; <I>Encyclopedia </B></I>1776; PCGS #1552.<BR><BR><B>Variety. </B></I>Overdate. High leaf left of right edge of S. The obverse appears on S-281. The reverse appears on S-281.<BR><BR><B>Surfaces. </B></I>Bluish-steel color on the obverse with mahogany on the reverse, all from retoning at some past time. Both sides have a few light scratches, but they have retoned as well, nearly disappearing into the surrounding surface. Generally well struck, although somewhat unevenly, with the lower obverse and upper reverse borders missing. Stars 1 through 6 and 13 are flat but entirely outlined. Trivial rim bruises are located below the date. Features of the overdate are boldly visible.<BR><BR><B>Die State III. </B></I>An intermediate die state with faded clash marks. In the earlier Die State II, Breen mentions a "faint crack or guide line through tops of TED" that is faintly visible on this example. Pete Smith only records two die states, either perfect or clashed.<BR><BR><B>Census. </B></I>Despite ranking among the most plentiful Classic Head cents, only four Mint State coins and five or six AU pieces are known. According to the Noyes Census, this piece probably ranks in the top two dozen. Among the top 26 coins listed by Noyes, only two pieces have Choice surfaces and just three others are Above Average.<BR><BR><B>Commentary. </B></I>The S-281 overdate is the only 1810 listed as Rarity-1, and is clearly the most often encountered variety. The four normal date varieties are all considered R.2 or R.3. Although long classified as an 1810 over 1809 overdate, it is nearly impossible to determine with certainty that the original date was 1809 and not 1808. Breen notes that "examination of sharply struck coins of early die states favors 1809." The wide obverse dentils are unlike any used in 1808 or 1809.<BR><BR>Doughty was not entirely clear about procedures at the Mint, writing "the die is the same as No. 210 [1809], the last two figures of the date having been altered to suit the year. The 09 shows very plainly beneath the 10." This follows his earlier description that the 1809 obverse was produced from the hub of 1808. Perhaps he assumed that there was no "hub of 1809" since the only 1809 die was made from the 1808 hub.<BR><BR><B>Provenance. </B></I><I>George Ramont (11/1968); Jules Reiver (Heritage, 1/2006), lot 19632; Richard Gross (2/2006).</B></I><BR><BR><B>Personality. Richard Gross</B></I> is a Maryland dealer and longtime member of Early American Coppers, active since the early 1970s. He has handled a number of important large cents over the years.<BR><BR><b>Shipping:</b> Coins & Currency (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.heritageauctions.com/common/shipping.php">view shipping information</a>)
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