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1851 N-40 R5+

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / US Coins Start Price:725.00 USD Estimated At:1,500.00 USD
1851 N-40 R5+
1851 N-40 R5+. PCGS graded MS-62 Red & Brown. Heavily Blunted Obverse Die. Mint red fading to olive and chocolate on the devices, at least half the planchet showing mint color. There are traces of old fingerprints on both sides (that's where most of the toning comes from). Otherwise this cent has only a few trivial marks, including a faint scuff in the field between the chin and star 2 and a speck of dark toning on the right edge of the lower loop of the 8. This obverse die was first used in the N-34 marriage, and every detail except for the date was heavily blunted prior to its use to strike cents (first N-34, then N-40). The exact cause for the blunting is not known, but it is severe and consistent. The reverse die used in this N-40 marriage is normal; sharp and properly detailed throughout its use in 4 different marriages (N-43, N-40, N-36, and N-9 in that order). This is a great cent that went underappreciated by the folks at PCGS, most likely due to the unusual obverse die. EDS, die state a (there is no state b for this variety). The die lines from the throat are clear. Called MS64 and CC#1 in the Noyes census, his photo #30601. Our grade is MS63+, close to MS64, and tied for CC#1 in the Grellman census. It comes with a nice provenance. PCGS population 1; the only Red & Brown for the variety graded by PCGS. DWH #3579 (PCGS # 406775) .
Estimated Value $1,500-UP.

Provenance: Ex Anderson Dupont, Stack's 9/24/54:960-Doug Bird 7/87-R. E. Naftzger, Jr., McCawley & Grellman Auctions/Goldberg’s 9/7/2009:1082.