5197

1864[1C] L On Ribbon PR64 Red PCGS.

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money Start Price:1.00 USD Estimated At:1.00 - 1,000,000.00 USD
1864[1C] L On Ribbon PR64 Red PCGS.
<B>1864<1C> L On Ribbon PR64 Red PCGS.</B></I> The 1864-L in proof format is a legendary rarity among 19th century U.S. coins. Only 20 pieces were struck and today 17 examples are traced. This is only the third time Heritage has been honored to offer one of these rare proofs at public auction.<BR> Curiously, three die pairings were used to strike the 17 known coins. This particular coin is struck from the newly discovered Die Pair 3. Six pieces are known from Die Pair 1, ten from Die Pair 2, and this single example is extant from Die Pair 3. This die pair is characterized by the digit 4 being repunched northwest, and the left edge of the 1 is positioned over the left half of a denticle. While similar to Die Pair 1, this die differs in the position of the date in relation to the denticles. And most importantly, this die pairing has not been observed on any business strikes.<BR> In the write-up for this coin in the 1997 Halpern and Warner Sale, Bowers stated that Die Pair 2 coins are now considered restrikes. Both Die Pairs 1 and 3 are from the same reverse and are thought to be originals from 1864. Rick Snow made the following comment about this coin: "It is a superb specimen with more red than any specimen (from any die pair) yet seen by this numismatist." The surfaces are bright orange-red with deeply mirrored fields and light mint frost evident on the obverse devices. The only immediately recognizable surface flaw that can be used as a pedigree identifier is a small spot on the left side of the C in CENT on the reverse. The provenance of this coin is a bit cloudy, the 1997 Bowers catalog only identifying the consignor as "Pennsylvania Cabinet," the coin having been purchased "at an unknown time, many years ago." The coin realized an astonishing $63,250 in that sale five years ago.<BR><B>Variety Descriptions and Pedigree of Known Proof 1864-L Indian Cents</B></I><BR><B> Variety 1</B></I> has the 1 in the date positioned nearly flush with the bust point with the edge of the left base of this digit over the space between denticles below. This die was unevenly finished with die polishing resulting in widely spaced denticles at the left and right obverse borders and closely spaced denticles at the top and bottom obverse borders. The reverse is virtually perfect without any die markers noted. An example of this die pair is also known in copper-nickel. Six or seven examples of Variety 1 are currently known.<BR><B> Pedigrees of Variety 1:</B></I><BR> 1. Higgins Specimen. The obverse has a spot below TA in STATES. Discovered in Las Vegas, circa 1983-84; Robert Schultz; Higgins Sale (Bowers and Merena, 1/88), lot 99; Private collection. Offered in the Higgins Sale with a letter from Walter Breen, dated July 6, 1984, proclaiming this to be a previously unknown variety. Presently in the inventory of Rick Snow and graded PR63 Red and Brown PCGS.<BR> 2. Marks Specimen. The obverse is brilliant with the reverse toned. Marks Collection (Bowers and Ruddy 11/72), lot 164; Austin Collection (Bowers and Ruddy 5/74), lot 285; Paxman Collection (Bowers and Ruddy, 11/74), lot 215.<BR> 3. New England Specimen. A small spot is visible on the rim over M of AMERICA. New England Rare Coin Auctions (11/79), lot 74. Described as Variety 2 in the catalog.<BR> 4. Massachusetts Historical Society Specimen. Identified by a spot on the neck above the third pearl, below the E of UNITED. Stack''s (MHS, 3/73), lot 379; Stack''s (3/82), lot 620.<BR> 5. Ruder Specimen. Nearly full red color. A large spot is visible on the second feather above B in LIBERTY. Ruder Collection (Stack''s, 9/87), lot 532.<BR> 6. Anderson-Dupont Specimen. Described as an example "struck in copper." Anderson-Dupont Collection (Stack''s, Part II, 11/54), lot 1177; Miles Collection, Part II (Stack''s, 4/69), lot 234.<BR> 7. PCGS Proof 65 Red and Brown. Pennsylvania Cabinet (Bowers and Merena, 1/99), lot 1031. This example may be the same as one of the first six listed above.<BR><B> Variety 2</B></I> has the digit 1 clearly right of the bust point and has a long diagonal die line on the neck just under the Indian's jaw. The reverse has numerous die lines crossing each other. This reverse die was used on many proof Indian cents struck from 1868 to 1871 and suggests that this variety may have been a restrike. Ten examples of Variety 2 are currently identified.<BR><B> Pedigrees of Variety 2:</B></I><BR> 8. Norweb Specimen. A choice example with red color and a small planchet defect at the tip of the sixth feather. Norweb Collection (Bowers and Merena, Part 1, 10/87), lot 156.<BR> 9. Blevins & Bodway. Gem nearly full red. Blevins and Bodway Collections (Superior, 6/88), lot 4077.<BR> 10. Starr. PCGS Proof 65 Red and Brown. 5% red, discolored above the first three feathers. Starr Collection (Stack's, 10/92), lot 657.<BR> 11. Baldenhofer Specimen. PCGS Proof 64 Red and Brown. 15% red with a lint mark at E of AMERICA. Baldenhofer Collection (Stack's, 11/55), lot 214; Swedish ambassador; Swedish Embassy; Harlan White; House of Stuart, 1979; Larry Whitlow, Ltd., 1992; private collection, (6/94), lot 163; Eagle Eye Rare Coins, 1995 FPL; Texas Collection; Eagle Eye Rare Coins, 1996 FPL; East Coast Collection; FUN Sale (Heritage, 1/03), lot 4480; Lloyd Mincy.<BR> 12. Superior. PCGS Proof 63 Red and Brown, 75% red with a large contact mark on the Indian's neck. Superior (1095), lot 38.<BR> 13. PCGS Proof 64 Red and Brown, 50% red with spots on the reverse between O and N, wreath and C, and E and knot. Private owner, supposedly acquired in the 1950s; Superior (5/99), lot 1648.<BR> 14. Judd Specimen. Breen <I>Proof Coin Encyclopedia</B></I> plate coin. Reddish-gold obverse with gold color on the reverse. A planchet flaw in the field between second and third feathers serves as a pedigree marker. Dr. J. Hewitt Judd Collection; Lester Merkin; Willing Collection (Bowers and Ruddy, 6/76), lot 1387; Auction '90 (Stack's session), lot 46.<BR> 15. Snow plate coin. Spots before nose and above IC in AMERICA. Brown with purple highlights. 1986 FUN Sale (Mid-American, 1/86), lot 429.<BR> 16. Jay Specimen. Many carbon spots on the obverse. Jay Collection (Stack's, 10/67), lot 434; Scanlon Collection (Stack's, 10/73), lot 158; Dr. Coles Collection; Stack's (10/87), lot 1139; Auction '88 (Superior's session), lot 24.<BR> 17. Chapman Specimen. This piece was sold in Henry Chapman's Sale from November 22, 1907. It remained in the original envelope from 1907 and was offered in the: Pre-Long Beach Sale (Superior, 1/04), lot 1747, where it was graded PR62 Red and Brown PCGS. Subsequently curated and now a PR64 Red PCGS: Pre-Long Beach Sale (Superior, 6/04), lot 1007. Unlisted in Snow's book.<BR><B> Variety 3</B></I> has normally spaced denticles rather than the unevenly spaced denticles of the first variety. The digit 4 is repunched to the northwest. The left edge of digit 1 is placed over the left half of a denticle. This obverse die has never been observed on any business strikes. The reverse of Variety 3 is the same as Variety 1. Variety 3 remains unique.<BR><B> Pedigree of Variety 3:</B></I><BR> 18. Pennsylvania Cabinet. PCGS Proof 64 Red. Pennsylvania Cabinet; Bowers and Merena (3/97); Long Beach Sale (Heritage, 6/02), lot 5202; FUN Sale (Heritage, 1/04), lot 4375.<BR><B> Additional Pedigree Notes:</B></I><BR> <BR><BR><B>Important notice:</B> Heritage usually auctions material at the rate of 200-250 lots per hour. On some occasions eBay Live bid software or the Internet may not be able to keep up with the pace of the auction. 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