Lot 16
1794 S-48 R5 Starred Reverse. PCGS graded Fine-12. Rather glossy medium chocolate and steel brown with lighter steel brown toning on the devices. The surfaces appear smooth to the unaided eye but a glass reveals uniform extremely fine granularity in the fields and protected areas. No verdigris and only a few trivial marks including a tiny scratch slanting through the E in CENT, another under the first T in STATES, and a longer one through the left foot of the first A in AMERICA. A small dab of glue on the bottom of the first T in STATES can help identify this cent. Later die state, Breen III, with swelling that weakens ON, CE, and ERIC. The tiny stars at the dentil tips are visible around the reverse except for AMERIC thanks to the weakness in that area. A very nice example of the famous "Starred Reverse" variety in spite of the imperfect surfaces. Unfortunately most examples of this variety come with significant environmental damage, and this one is clearly above average for the variety. Graded VG10 Choice and tied for CC#9 in the Noyes census, his photo #20418. Bland says VG10 and tied for CC#10 in his census. Our grade is VG10. The reverse is plated on page 40 in Tom Morley's 1979 grading reference for the die varieties of 1794 cents. Comes with a wonderful provenance that includes several prominent collectors of early large cents. The attribution and Doug Bird Collection provenance are noted on the PCGS label. PCGS population 2; 4 finer: 1 in 30, 1 in 35, 1 in 40, 1 in 50. (PCGS # 35705) Value $40,000 - UP
Ex Howard R. Newcomb, J. C. Morgenthau & Co. #458, 2/7/1945:24-Milton A. Holmes, Stack's 10/5/1960:1377-Frank H. Masters, Jr., Rare Coin Company of America 5/14/1971:64-Bowers & Ruddy 5/15/1971-John W. Adams-Dr. Edward R. Bush 9/1978-Myles Z. Gerson-Dr. Dane B. Nielsen-Dr. Philip W. Ralls 5/1983-Jack H. Robinson 5/2/1986-Douglas F. Bird Collection.
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| Realized $63,000 |
