Lot 173
1797 S-140 R1. PCGS graded MS-66 Red & Brown. Reverse of 1797 with Stems. Highly lustrous light bluish steel brown with 30% of the slightly faded mint color remaining on the obverse and traces of mint red showing through in protected areas on the reverse. A wonderful specimen, virtually flawless with outstanding cartwheel luster and a sharp strike. The only marks are a couple tiny spots of darker toning at the left foot of the T in LIBERTY and another hidden in the hair well left of the earlobe, plus a few microscopic planchet chips in the field left of the hair ribbon, as struck. A remarkable example worthy of the very finest collection. Sharply struck EDS, Breen state I. This is the plate coin for the variety in Sheldon's Penny Whimsy and in the Noyes book with both the obverse and reverse pictured in both references. Called MS65 and finest known in the Bland census. Noyes calls this piece MS63 and CC#1 by a wide margin as the only mint state example in his list, Noyes photo #21269. Our grade is Mint State-66. Ted called this piece MS70 and noted thus on his envelope, which is included with the lot. PCGS population 1 with none finer. In fact, this is the only RB example of the variety graded by PCGS.
Estimated Value $40,000 - 50,000.
Ex Howard R. Newcomb, J. C. Morgenthau & Co. #458, 2/7 1945:170-T. James Clarke 1949-Dr. William H. Sheldon 4/19/72-R. E. Naftzger, Jr.
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| Realized $189,750 |
