LOT Old Heritage Auctions  /  2007 Sept. Long Beach Signature Coin Auction  / 

101

1812 1C Small Date MS65 Red and Brown PCGS

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / US Coins Start Price:11,000.00 USD Estimated At:1.00 - 1,000,000.00 USD
1812 1C Small Date MS65 Red and Brown PCGS
<B>1812 1C Small Date MS65 Red and Brown PCGS.</B></I> S-290, B-2, R.1. Less than 10 Mint State examples of S-290 appear in the major large cent census listings. Del Bland records exactly 10 pieces, although he has only seen eight of the ten pieces. Bill Noyes considers just six examples as full Mint State, and two of those have not been seen for 30 years. This specimen has a 34 year pedigree, and is tied for the finest known according to both Bland and Noyes. The piece it is tied with belongs to the British Museum in London, where it has resided for more than 140 years. Therefore, this example is the single finest 1812 S-290 large cent available to collectors today.<BR><BR> Sheldon-290 is identified by the needle-like die scratch beneath the obverse center dot. The variety is plentiful in dark, worn grades, but is very rare with noticeable remaining mint red. An extraordinary coin from a technical perspective, unabraded and unspotted, although the dies are flowlined, particularly along the right borders. Both sides have frosty cartwheel luster with olive-brown color. A tiny dark toning spot is trapped between stars 11 and 12, identifying the pedigree. Splashes of original red mint color appear on the obverse, with considerably more on the reverse. While this example is an excellent piece to represent the Classic Head design type, it is most likely destined to be a part of the finest variety cabinet of these cents. As noted by the cataloger for American Numismatic Rarities when this cent last appeared on the market: “Both Noyes and Bland grade this coin ‘EAC’ MS65, a true feat for a coin that is not full red and a great testament to this coin’s eye appeal and originality.”<BR><BR> Although not cracked, this example represents the latest known die state with heavy flowlines, especially on the reverse, and prominent lapping lines also on the reverse. STATES OF AME have the tops of these letters merged with the border. In an article that appeared in <I>America’s Copper Coinage, 1783-1857</B></I>, published by the ANS after the 1984 Coinage of the Americas Conference, Pete Smith described the flowlines that often appear on the Classic Head cents.<BR><BR> “In the striking process the metal of the planchet is compressed between the two dies. It is also forced outward from the center. This lateral movement may have a cumulative effect upon the dies. The effect can be observed as radial lines across the surface of the coin. Some of these radial lines are a natural product of the metal stretching. However, when they appear in the same place and pattern on many coins, it is apparent that the lines are transferred from the surface of the die. These lines can also be observed at the points of greatest resistance. Often the points of the stars on the obverse or the letters of the reverse legend become connected to the rims because of this effect.” EAC 65.<BR><BR><I>Discovered at a 1973 coin show by Malcolm Varner; A-Mark Coin Co. (3/1973), lot 244; Douglas M. McHenry; Superior Galleries (9/1986), lot 429; Anthony Terranova; R.E. Naftzger, Jr. (2/23/1992); Eric Streiner; Jay Parrino (The Mint); Superior (2/1999), lot 2157; Alan Kollar; Superior (5/2005), lot 1040; American Numismatic Rarities (9/2005), lot 52.<BR></B></I><BR>Population: 2 in 65 Red and Brown, 0 finer (7/07).<BR><BR><B>Coin Engraver:</B> John Reich<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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