Lot 32
1796 S-87 R3 Liberty Cap. PCGS graded MS-62 Brown. Glossy medium brown and light chocolate with a wisp of dark olive toning (not carbon) in the field from the end of the nose to the rim and another from the truncation between the 7 & 9 to the rim below. In addition there are diaphanous veins of golden tan swirled on both sides, possibly from an incomplete alloying of the metals used to make the planchet. The mixture of tones catches your eye; otherwise this cent is very close to flawless with frosty mint luster covering the fields and protected areas, especially on the reverse. A tiny nick-like diagonal planchet chip on the shoulder is the only additional mark. LDS, Breen state IV. The die crack that arcs through the 7, bust, and pole is clear, the die rust in the field before the portrait and at the U in UNITED is strong, and there are multiple die clashmarks left of C in CENT. The reverse is rotated about 25 degrees CCW relative to the typical head-to-foot die orientation for large cents, but this rotation is normal for the later die states of the S-87 die variety. Graded MS60 sharpness net AU50 and tied for CC#1 honors in the Noyes census, his photo #20277. Bland says AU50 and tied for CC#2. Our grade is AU50+. The attribution and Doug Bird Collection provenance are noted on the PCGS label. PCGS population 2; none finer. Only 2 graded MS at PCGS. (PCGS # 35768) Value $25,000 - UP
Ex Glendining (London) 5/1987:261-William P. (Billy) Paul (American Heritage Minting) 6/1/1987-Douglas F. Bird Collection (includes the AHM sales ticket).
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| Realized $30,000 |
