Lot 172
1797 S-127 R4. PCGS graded AU-55. Double Struck. Sharpness AU50 with a line of contact marks in the dentils right of the bust tip and faint roughness covering the fields and protected areas on the reverse. The obverse surfaces are smooth and frosty offering excellent eye appeal, but a strong glass reveals additional traces of extremely faint roughness in the field before the portrait. No verdigris. Frosty steel and chocolate brown with a pair of darker streaks of steel brown toning crossing the reverse creating a faint "X" across that side. EDS, Breen state I. Boldly double struck. The first strike was properly centered on the planchet but the cent stayed in the press and was struck a second time after pivoting about 10 degrees at the left edge and shifting slightly to the bottom. The date on the first impression remains visible, especially the upper half of the second 7 which shows boldly in the drapery of the second strike, and LIBERTY is strongly doubled as well. Ample additional evidence of the first strike shows on both sides. Not only is this a dramatic mint error, but this cent is the finest known example of the variety. Bland grades this piece XF40 and calls it CC#1 by 10 points over the second-best example. Noyes says AU50 sharpness net VF30 and tied for CC#1 honors, his photo #21445. Our grade is AU50 net VF35. On the Naftzger envelope, which is included with the lot, he notes that the date reads "17977" and he calls the reverse streaks of darker toning "the Prussian Cross." In addition, inside the main envelope is another smaller one that includes handwriting from Clapp, Newcomb, and Hines, what Ted calls "The Big Three." (Ted Naftzger wrote extensively on his coin envelopes and they are important collector's items themselves.) PCGS population 1 with none finer.
Estimated Value $3,000 - 5,000.
Ex Charles J. Augustin-Thomas L. Elder 1/1931:1648-James G. Macallister-Henry C. Hines-Dr. William H. Sheldon 1948-Admiral Worthington S. Bitler 8/1960-Abe Kosoff 4/1961-R. E. Naftzger, Jr.
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| Realized $14,950 |
