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1838 N-2 R1 MS65

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / US Coins Start Price:1,200.00 USD Estimated At:2,500.00 USD and UP
1838 N-2 R1 MS65
1838 N-2 R1 MS65. Lustrous bright mint red fading to steel brown on the highpoints, at least two-thirds of the mint color remaining. A monster gem cent except for a shallow planchet void from impurity in the metal on the edge at star 9, as struck. Otherwise the only marks are faint traces of an old fingerprint around star 5 and a speck of dark toning in the hair under the Y in LIBERTY. Great eye appeal, a truly wonderful cent except for the small planchet defect. M-LDS with fine die flowlines covering the fields creating the wonderful cartwheel luster. Called MS65 and tied for CC#1 in the Bland census list. Noyes says either MS65 (one list), MS63 (another list), or MS60 net AU50 (the same second list under a different photo number, which shows why grading from photos can be troublesome), his photo #20995. Removed from a PCGS slab graded MS65RB (PCGS label included, and it shows the attribution and Naftzger provenance).
Estimated Value $2,500-UP.

Provenance: Ex Milton A. Holmes, Stack's 10/5/60:1584-Louis Helfenstein, Lester Merkin 8/14/64:174-A. Lovi-Robert Batchelder-Jerry A. Bobbe-Myles Z. Gerson-Denis Loring-Stanley Kesselman-R. E. Naftzger, Jr., McCawley & Grellman Auctions/Goldbergs 2/1/2009:405, The Northwest Collection.