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1854 Judd-165b Original Rarity-8-

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / US Coins Start Price:499.00 USD Estimated At:1,000.00 USD
1854 Judd-165b Original Rarity-8-
1854 Judd-165b Original Rarity-8-. PCGS graded Proof 63 Brown. Glossy chocolate brown with underlying satiny mint frost. While these are called proof strikes, there is little if any reflective surface in the fields on either side. The only mark is a small strip of light golden planchet impurity (possibly brass) at stars 1 & 2. Rather nicely struck on the obverse with only minor weakness on the highpoints of the eagle, but the ON in ONE is weak due to being opposite the deep breast of the eagle (not enough metal or striking pressure to fill that side of the die). The diameter is 25 millimeters and the weight is 96.1 grains versus the 168-grain standard for a normal large cent. Apparently these were struck as patterns for a possible new cent design of reduced size and weight. The price of copper had risen so much that the cost of producing large cents was exceeding their face value. The mint was exploring alternatives with various patterns for consideration. Our grade is Proof-60. An attractive example of this extremely rare pattern, only 3 known according to the 2003 Judd book edited by Dave Bowers with no auction records listed. The attribution and Dan Holmes provenance are listed on the PCGS label. PCGS population 2; 1 in Proof-64 Brown. DWH #3162 (PCGS # 11698) .
Estimated Value $1,000-UP.

Provenance: Ex Jack Borckardt (Fort Findlay Enterprises) 6/82-John D. Wright 1/18/06-Bob Grellman & Chris McCawley 4/3/06.