Lot 290
1848 N-18 R4. PCGS graded MS-62 Brown. Frosty steel brown and light chocolate with frosty luster remaining in some of the protected areas. A hint of slightly darker toning is found around stars 8-10. A pair of shallow but significant scrape marks are located on the upper part of the neck reaching to the jawline, but this cent is choice otherwise. Rare LDS, die state d, with two parallel bisecting die cracks across the obverse. The first extends from the dentils just below star 3 almost horizontally across the portrait to the dentils just above star 11. The second and final crack reaches from the dentils left of star 1 through that star and lower bust touching the top of star 13 to the dentils under star 12. Only 9 examples are known with both cracks, and this is the finest of that small group in both the Noyes and Grellman census lists. Called AU50 and tied for CC#2 overall in the Noyes census, his photo #55101. Our grade is net EF45, tied for CC#5 overall but finest of the late state by a wide margin in the Grellman census. Ted's envelope has a note stating that, according to Homer Downing, "R8, only 3 known, a real NC; latest state of dies. Unique." We have uncovered a few more since then, but none finer than this one. PCGS population 1; the finest example graded at PCGS for the variety. DWH #3574 (PCGS # 171276) .
Estimated Value $1,000-UP.
Ex Homer K. Downing, 1952 ANA Sale, lot 2205-Willard C. Blaisdell 9/76 (via Del Bland)-R. E. Naftzger, Jr., McCawley & Grellman Auctions/Goldberg’s 9/7/2009:862.
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| Realized $4,600 |
