Lot 240
1797 NC-7 R8+ (Unique). VG-7. Noyes and Breen Plate Coin. Sharpness F12 but covered with nearly uniform fine granularity. There is a small patch of light verdigris at the dentils close over the bust tip and traces of similar reddish verdigris scattered about the reverse, but it takes a glass to find them and they do not significantly impact the eye appeal. The only notable contact mark is a very light rim bruise behind the head, and there is a shallow planchet void or pit in the dentils over the M in AMERICA. The second 7 in the date and the bust tip are weak, as is the opposing area at OF, as struck due to sinking in the bust area of the obverse die. Otherwise the date and legends are clear. Slightly glossy dark olive and steel brown. A strong die crack extends from the rim over the bust tip to the junction of the bust and neck. This unique variety was struck using the S-133 obverse die in its latest state married with the earliest state of the S-142 reverse die. The variety was discovered by Jules Reiver in 1968 and it remains unique today despite extensive publicity and eager searching by collectors since that time. Jules’ story of his discovery and Walter Breen’s analysis of the variety were published in the November 1968 issue of Penny-Wise (see page 216). Called net VG7 by Bland. Noyes says F12 net G5, photo #26736. Removed from an NCS slab graded VF details with environmental damage (NCS label included, and it shows the attribution and Reiver provenance). DWH #2865.
Estimated Value $25,000-UP.
Ex Carl Wattenbarger 8/68-Jules Reiver, Heritage 1/24/06:19336.
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| Realized $39,100 |
