Lot 171
1796 S-84 R3 Liberty Cap. PCGS graded MS-66 Red & Brown. Choice lustrous steel brown with 20-25% of the original mint red remaining on both sides. No spots, stains, or contact marks. A piece displaying a truly remarkable state of preservation, especially for a 1796 Liberty Cap cent. The only defects, if you wish to call them that, are some microscopic planchet chips in the left obverse field near the dentils with a few more inside the wreath. These minor planchet marks were present on the planchet prior to striking and failed to completely press out when the cent was struck by the dies. The best identifying mark is a microscopic vertical planchet fissure passing through the base of the O in ONE, and it takes a strong glass to locate it. Early die state, Breen state I, before any die cracks. Nicely struck with just a bit of weakness on the E in CENT. The obverse is centered on the planchet while the reverse is very slightly off center to K-9 leaving very long dentils along the right edge of that side. Called MS65 Choice and tied for CC#1 honors with one other piece in the Noyes census, his photo #20738. The piece Noyes has tied with this cent is similar but retains far less mint color. Bland says MS63 and CC#1, but his grade is conservative based on seeing a photo rather than the actual coin. Ted Naftzger's envelope for this cent indicates he called it "MS-70 Mint Red" (envelope included with the lot). Our grade is Mint State-65. Comes with a wonderful provenance of numismatic luminaries. PCGS population 1 with none finer.
Estimated Value $80,000 - 100,000.
Ex Major William Boerum Wetmore-S. H. & H. Chapman 6/1906:549-Dr. Lewis H. Adler, Jr., 3/1917-B. Max Mehl-Dr. Henry W. Beckwith, S. H. Chapman 4/1923:8-Henry Chapman-Dr. George P. French-B. Max Mehl FPL 1929:107-T. James Clarke 10/1954-R. E. Naftzger, Jr.
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| Realized $690,000 |
