Lot 173
1848 Small Date Fantasy Cent, Breen-1901, Rarity-7-. PCGS graded AU-55. Lightly cleaned, now nicely retoned frosty chocolate brown with suggestions of reddish steel overtone. There are no traces of an undertype or multiple strikes on this piece. The surfaces and details on this example are clearly superior to any of the other 10-12 pieces known of this "variety," which usually comes with significant defects and/or heavy wear. The only marks are some very fine hairline scratches in the fields, mostly on the reverse. Weight recorded as 152.2 grains prior to being slabbed. The reverse is rotated 150 degrees CCW relative to the "normal" head-to-foot die orientation found on mint-struck cents. Called VF30 and CC#1 in the Noyes census, his photo #33548. Noyes says the next best grades VF20 and this is followed by a F12 in a census that contains 13 pieces (only 10 of those confirmed and photographed). Our grade is net VF35, CC#1 in the Grellman census, which includes a VF30 followed by a F12 in third place among 10 confirmed examples. Regardless of the census used, the piece offered here is the undisputed finest known of this very popular rarity. Newcomb devoted a couple pages in his book on the series to the "Small Date" 1848 cent, and most of the top collections have contained an example; none superior to this one. The attribution and Doug Bird Collection provenance are noted on the PCGS label. PCGS population 1; none finer. (PCGS # 403850) Value $12,500 - UP
Ex Chris McCawley, McCawley & Grellman Auctions 1/7/1995:646 (via Tony Terranova)-R. E. Naftzger, Jr.-Naftzger Estate, McCawley & Grellman Auctions/Goldbergs 9/7/2009:900-Douglas F. Bird Collection (Naftzger collection envelope and both lot tickets included).
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| Realized $10,800 |
