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***Auction Highlight*** 1810/09 S-281 Breen-III Classic Head Large Cent 1c Graded xf By USCG (fc)

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money Start Price:25.00 USD Estimated At:650.00 - 2,600.00 USD
***Auction Highlight*** 1810/09 S-281 Breen-III Classic Head Large Cent 1c Graded xf By USCG (fc)
***Auction Highlight*** 1810/09 S-281 Breen-III Classic Head Large Cent 1c Graded xf By USCG. Up for Auction is a terrific 1810/09 Classic Head Cent, S-281, xf40. The example at hand has a pleasing even brown color, minimal contact marks for the grade, and is struck slightly off center. It is the Breen Die State III. Produced for only seven years from 1808 through 1814, the Classic Head large cent design is the work of German-born engraver John Reich. Known for years among numismatists as the Turban Head cent (based on the name popularized by Edouard Frossard in his 1879 monograph), the more familiar Classic Head name used today actually predates Frossard's description and is attributed to Ebenezer Locke Mason, Jr. in 1868. The latter name was basically reintroduced to the numismatic community in the 1950s by Walter Breen, who theorizes that Reich's inspiration for Liberty's portrait probably came from one or more statues of boy athletes from Ancient Greece. The fillet inscribed LIBERTY on the portrait was worn as a prize for winners of city-wide athletic competitions, hence Breen's conclusion. In the absence of documentary evidence explaining why, the author further speculates that objection to the use of a boy athlete as a model for Liberty from one or more contemporary observers may have prompted Chief Engraver Robert Scot to replace his assistant Reich's design after only seven years of production. Regardless of the exact circumstances of its design and replacement, the Classic Head series is one of the shortest among early coppers from the U.S. Mint. The paucity of examples produced does not alone explain why this is also one of the most challenging types to locate in finer circulated and Mint State grades. Planchet stock for this series, all of which was supplied by Matthew Boulton of Birmingham, England, is inferior to that which the Mint used to produce other large cent types. The copper used for the Classic Head coinage is softer with more metallic impurities, which made the finished coins more susceptible to wear, environmental damage and unattractive toning. Indeed, the vast majority of survivors of all dates of this type are well worn and/or impaired. This 1810/09 has survived well better than the vas majority of the others. It is also worth noting that it has never been determined if the underlying date is either an 09 or an 08. And last you will notice from the closeup that not only is the 2nd one stamped over a former 0, but it was also stamped over a partial 1 which can be seen protruding from the top of the 1. Good luck acquiring this terrific and scarce overdate. PCGS estimates 1500 survive in all grades. This example is tied for 33rd finest. A Corey's Pick, Bid to Win, Don't let it get Away, you might not find its equal Coin