Lot 690
1804 C-11 R2 Plain 4 with Stems EF40. Choice glossy chocolate and steel brown. Smooth and very attractive for the grade. The only marks are a faint hairline scratch at the left corner of the eye and a small planchet clip in the dentils over the second S in STATES (as struck). Nicely struck EDS, Manley state 1.0. The central reverse is not swollen and HALF CENT is well struck, which is unusual for this variety. This piece was struck two times. The initial strike was an off center brockage, and an arc of incuse dentils from this initial strike shows from the leaf under E in STATES to the leaves under AM, clearest above ALF. The obverse is finely doubled on the date and all the devices. Plated Walter Breen's half cent encyclopedia, page 476 of the "Whoops" chapter, where Breen identifies this piece as having been "struck on a cut-down cent." However, the arc of dentils fits a half cent, not a large cent, and this piece was double struck as described on a normal half cent planchet. A beautiful example of this popular "Redbook" variety, and the double strike error is a bonus.
Estimated Value $1,000-UP.
Ex Bill Weber, McCawley & Grellman Auctions/Superior 6/3/2002:2319.
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| Realized $2,875 |
