Lot 209
1804 C-2 R6 AG3. Sharpness VG10 or better where the details were properly struck up, but this piece has problems that go way beyond the strike. The coin was covered with moderate corrosion, then scraped (perhaps to remove some of the roughness), and then burnished to further minimize the surface problems. And all the work was done with minimal skill as numerous fine scratches were left behind. Nonetheless, this is a very important coin for several reasons: it is the discovery coin for the die variety (1967), it is still a very rare die variety (25 known and nearly all are in low grade), and the die state of this example appears to be unique. Recolored a rather glossy mix of chocolate brown on the devices and dark olive and steel in the protected areas. The strike on the lower left quadrant of the obverse and along the left edge of the reverse is relatively weak (as always on this variety due to non-parallel die faces) but the remainder of the details were properly impressed. The date is full and easily readable although certainly not strong, and the legends are complete except for NITED-ST, which is faint at best. Unique intermediate die state, Manley state 2.0 late, with a sunken retained cud over ERTY. The reverse is rotated 20 degrees CW. This is the discovery coin for the variety and die state (Howard Hazelcorn circa 1967) and it is plated in the first edition of the Cohen book to illustrate the variety (page 36). If there is a possibility to call an ugly coin a highlight of a collection, this is it. And it comes with a nice provenance. Davy #04.2.5.
Estimated Value $7,500-UP.
Ex Howard Hazelcorn 7/1967-Jon Hanson-William K. Raymond 12/1967-Jon Hanson 2/3/1968-Donald G. Partrick-Ray D. Munde 9/1971-Roger S. Cohen, Jr., Superior 2/2/1992:140.
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| Realized $11,500 |
