Lot 179
1800 S-197 R1. PCGS graded MS-64 Red & Brown. The "Q-Variety." Lustrous steel brown with 5% of the mint red remaining on the obverse, 20% on the reverse. The surfaces are covered with satiny mint frost that give this cent outstanding eye appeal. The only marks are a couple pre-striking planchet chips on the cheek, a microscopic scratch just below the curl on the neck, and a pair of small spots of darker toning (one in the hair left of the forehead and a second very low on the neck). MDS, Breen die state III. The usual small cud breaks at IBE are strong and the namesake "Q" break through the first 0 in the date is clear. (It should be noted here that Breen's first marker for his die state III, "Nearly horizontal cracks across the upper part of the hair and from the hair to 8" are in error. The "die cracks" in the hair are arcing die lines, similar to pantograph lines, that are present in all die states. His crack "from the hair to 8" is a die clash mark rather than a crack.) Called MS63 and finest known in both the Noyes and Bland census lists. Noyes used this coin to illustrate the variety in his book on the cents of 1793-1814, his photo #21007. Our grade is Mint State-63. PCGS population 1 with none finer.
Estimated Value $17,500 - 20,000.
Ex Thomas L. Elder 7/24/1945-Leonard M. Holland-Pennypacker Auction Centre 5/1959-Louis Helfenstein, Lester Merkin 8/14/1964:18-E. I. Unterman, Lester Merkin 10/31/73:306-Andrew M. Hain-Dennis E. Steinmetz-1980 ANA Sale, Steve Ivy Auctions, lot 951-Stanley Kesselman-R. E. Naftzger, Jr.
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| Realized $69,000 |
