Lot 99
1802 S-241 R1 Stemless Wreath, Doubled Fraction Bar. PCGS graded MS-63 Brown. CAC. Lustrous medium brown and tan blending to light chocolate brown and steel on the highpoints. Faint hints of mint color can be found in a few of the protected areas on both sides. The surfaces are satiny and the eye appeal is excellent. The only notable marks are a nick under the left side of the L in LIBERTY, a smaller nick on the drapery over the 2, a puff of darker chocolate toning before the eye, and a reddish brown spot between the feet of the I & C in AMERICA. The spot before the eye has a tiny planchet chip in its center. E-MDS, Breen state II late, with a fine die crack through OF to the dentils near the adjacent A and very faint beginnings of an additional crack from the dentils to the right top of the second T in STATES. Graded MS61 and the only mint state example in the Bland census. Noyes says AU55 and tied for CC#1, his photo #23119. Our grade is MS60. This is the plate coin for the variety in Early American Cents, Penny Whimsy, and the 1991 Noyes reference, and the reverse is plated in the 1925 Howard Newcomb reference on the cents of 1801-1803. A wonderful example of the 1802 Stemless Wreath with Doubled Fraction Bar; called "One of the great aristocrats" by C. Douglas Smith. Comes with a wonderful provenance, which you would expect for an "aristocrat." The attribution and Doug Bird Collection provenance are noted on the PCGS label. PCGS population 1; 1 finer in 64. (PCGS # 36332) Value $22,500 - UP
Ex Henry C. Hines-Howard R. Newcomb, J. C. Morgenthau & Co., 2/7/1945:387-Leonard M. Holland, Pennypacker Auction Centre 5/8/1959:22-Louis Helfenstein, Lester Merkin 8/14/1964:29 (as "Gem Unc" and plated)-Stack's (privately)-Frank H. Masters, Jr., Rare Coin Company of America 5/14/1971:151-C. Douglas Smith-Dr. Robert J. Shalowitz-C. Douglas Smith-Dr. Robert J. Shalowitz-C. Douglas Smith 3/30/1992-Eric Streiner, Superior 10/11/1992:124-Douglas F. Bird Collection (includes the Smith collection envelope and Superior lot ticket).
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| Realized $16,200 |
