Lot 118
1804 Private Restrike in White Metal Judd-28 R8. PCGS graded MS-63. CAC. Very frosty light steel gray. No significant defects, essentially as struck. A small nick on the rim over ER in LIBERTY can be used to identify this example. Only two are known struck with both an obverse and reverse, but a uniface obverse strike and two uniface reverse strikes are known in white metal. These were struck from the later state of the dies with the central hair details lapped off the die. The planchet is thick and weighs 157.1 grains. Breen called the planchet metal "tin" while it is listed as "white metal" in the Judd reference. Regardless there is no trace of "tin pest" oxidation that is often seen on tin planchets. The dies used were salvaged scrap dies discarded by the US Mint: the obverse is from 1803 S-261 with the date altered to 1804, and the reverse is from 1820 N-12. Both dies were rusted, especially the obverse. Many were struck in copper to supply collectors who were frustrated trying to find a decent 1804 cent for their collections (see the preceding lot), but only a very few were struck in white metal/tin. Noyes photo #61453. Our grade is MS60. This is the Breen plate coin for the variety and it comes with a great provenance that has been traced back 150 years. The attribution and Doug Bird Collection provenance are noted on the PCGS label. PCGS population 1; none finer. Only 2 graded; the other is MS62. (PCGS # 12247) Value $17,500 - UP
Ex William A. Fewsmith, Mason & Co., 10/4/1870:2434-Ebenezer Locke Mason, Jr.-W. J. Jenks, W. Elliot Woodward 9/1880:805-Charles H. Shinkle, J. C. Morgenthau & Co. #278, 4/26/1932:1-Dr. James O. Sloss-Pennsylvania Cabinet-Bowers & Merena 3/6/1997:149-Douglas F. Bird Collection (includes the Bowers & Merena lot ticket).
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| Realized $31,200 |
