Lot 191
1803 S-264 R4+ Large Date with Small Fraction. PCGS graded VF-35. Rather glossy chocolate and olive brown with the devices a shade or two lighter than the protected areas. There are no significant marks and the eye appeal is quite nice for the grade. The surfaces appear perfectly smooth to the unaided eye, but a strong glass reveals traces of extremely faint roughness in the fields and protected areas, strongest at F-A where there is a collection of very tiny pitmarks. There is no verdigris and the only notable sign of contact is a fine, old pinscratch in the field before the lower half of the neck. Nicely struck EDS, Breen state II. (This is the earliest die state for the variety as Breen's state I can't exist as he described it.) Called VF25 and tied for CC#1 in the Noyes census, his photo #21235. This is the plate coin for the variety in the Noyes book. Bland says VF20 and tied for CC#2. Our grade is Very Fine-25. Ted Naftzger's envelope notes in his handwriting that this piece is the "Earliest State" and that this example was unknown to Dr. Sheldon. The note goes on to explain how Ted obtained this cent. "2/15/75 at EAC/NY, I exchanged my 1801 NC-1, VF-35 x-WHS (Dr. Sheldon), even money; with DWL (Denis W. Loring), who had obtained this S264 from the Great Shal (Dr. Robert J. Shalowitz)." Then on the back of the envelope flap he added above the notation of a prior owner that this cent is the "Prop of the Great Shal" his own comment "formerly/TEE HEE". Ted had a nice sense of humor. This is one of three examples of the famous Large Date with Small Fraction variety tied for finest known honors, and all three of them have imperfect surfaces. Of the three, this piece appears to have the fewest imperfections. An extremely important example of this rare "Redbook" variety. PCGS population 1 with none finer.
Estimated Value $35,000 - 45,000.
Ex J. J. Teaparty 12/1973-William K. Raymond 12/73-Dr. Robert J. Shalowitz 2/74-William K. Raymond 3/74-J. J. Teaparty 9/74-Denis W. Loring 11/74-Alan J. Brotman (Numismatic Gallery) 1/75-Denis W. Loring 2/75-R. E. Naftzger, Jr.
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| Realized $57,500 |
