Lot 1497
1840 Coronet Head Cent. Small date. NGC graded N-2 Proof 63 Brown SM/LG 8. Well struck and toned, with the colors expanding from golden shades of old coppery fire to dullish steel brown hues. There are no handling marks or rim bruises on this lovely Proof which has broad square rims and needle-sharpness throughout. Each star comes 100% complete; Liberty's braided hair and hair bun impossible to describe other than to suggest you study the photograph to better enjoy the depth of strike it received from the special Proof dies. There is a toning hairline extending out to the rim from the back of the shoulder (as pictured); otherwise it might obtain a Proof 64 qualification. Pp 1; the only one graded by NGC.
Blundered die, small straight date over larger 18 leaning to right The die was originally dated 18-in expectation of use either in 1839 or 1840, but by the time the Engraving Department got around to using it, the individual large date punches had been abandoned in favor of the small date logotype or gangpunch. About 14 or 15 Proofs are known, possibly slightly more but only slightly, and it is curious that among all the dozen or so obverses made for this year, the one with a naked-eye blunder would have been chosen for making Proofs. Some specimens have touches of fiery brilliance like the 1841s and the half cents of this year.
Estimated Value $6,000 - 6,500.
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