Lot 40
121794 NC-8 R8-. Fine-12. Breen Plate Coin. Sharpness VF20 with minute granularity hidden under a rather glossy dark olive and steel brown patina. The highpoints are a lighter shade of steel brown. Traces of very light verdigris can be found tucked into some of the protected areas. The only marks are a few light hairline scratches nicely blended into natural toning in the field before the forehead and nose. Noyes lists this example as VF20 net F12 and tied for finest of 3 known, his photo #25052. Bland says net F12 and CC#2 in a census of 15-12-7. This is the Breen plate coin for the variety. DWH #0025.
Estimated Value $20,000-UP.
Ex Jack Borckardt 8/17/87 for $11,500. This purchase comes with an interesting story that may be lost if not recorded here. The coin was purchased unattributed for $400 at a North Carolina coin show in July 1987 by Jack Borckardt. The $400 price was gray sheet bid for a Fine-12 at that time. Jack attempted to attribute the coin but he was having trouble finding it in Penny Whimsy (because, of course, it was not listed there). Jack then handed the cent off to his son, Mark, who likewise was unable to find it in the attribution guide. Mark suggested it may be one of the new "not-in-Sheldon" varieties, to which his dad replied "We are not that lucky." Mark drove home from the coin shop to retrieve his notes, and while driving back to the shop he read the description for NC-8 and nearly lost control of the car (driving while attributing may be a crime). Mark sold the coin to Dan Holmes in August of 1987. And so goes "the rest of the story."
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| Realized $27,600 |
