Lot 1593
1820 Capped Bust Quarter Dollar. Large 0. NGC graded MS-64. A wonderful example and a reappearance of the fabulous Norweb example sold in 1988, where it was described as a "one-sided Proof." That sort of nomenclature has gone by the way-side today -- the prevailing wisdom is that a coin is either Proof or it is not. However, when you look at the obverse of this coin, it's hard not to call it Proof, or Prooflike, or at least heavily polished to a mirror brilliance. Surprisingly, the grade has withstood the test of time…it was graded 64 in 1988 and it remains so today. Here's how it was described fifteen years ago, "A superb coin in every respect, the piece is sharply struck and very beautiful. The obverse is toned light golden in the center, changing to electric blue at the borders, while the reverse is a mixture of silver and light grey. The obverse is struck from a polished die and is designated as Proof, while the reverse has a frosty finish and is of business strike format. One-sided Proofs exist for a number of issues of the era. The theory behind them is that these coins were made to lay face up in a cabinet, and it did not make any difference if the reverse was not of the Proof format. A similar one-sided Proof 1820 Browning-2 [quarter] dollar is cited by Walter Breen and has an illustrious pedigree, as it apparently is the Browning's personal coin pictured on Plate 4 of his book, after which it was owned by Colonel E.H.R. Green, later appearing in the Anderson-Dupont sale (Stack's 1954). A superb coin which will attract spirited bidding attention." Today, PCGS reports 5 in this grade, and only 4 higher.
Estimated Value $5,500 - 6,000.
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| Realized $8,050 |
