Lot 672
1844/81 N-2 R2 PCGS graded MS64 Red & Brown. Blundered Date, 1844 over Inverted 1844. Commonly called the "44 over 81 overdate." Frosty bright original mint red fading to bluish steel and light olive on the highpoints, at least two-thirds of the blazing original color remaining. This cent offers superb eye appeal, and the only real flaw is the usual relatively soft strike, notably on the coronet over LIB. All the higher grade examples included in the Noyes photo display for the variety are similarly struck, so waiting for a perfect one will prove futile. This cent does have a few trivial contact marks on the obverse, including a tiny nick on the top of the 8 and a very thin vertical nick in the field right of star 2. MDS, die state b. The tiny points from the O in ONE and E in CENT seen in the earliest state are gone, but the blundered date feature is strong. In fact, on this example you can see that the entire date (using a 4-digit logo punch) was lightly punched into the die in an inverted position. Most of the inverted impression was effaced from the die, but evidence of the error remains for all 4 of the inverted digits, including a trace of the base of the inverted second 4 extending to the right from near the top of the normal 1. Much stronger evidence of the other 3 inverted digits is present at the 844 of the normal date. This is a fantastic example of one of the most obvious die cutter blunders in the series and is a real prize for collectors of "Redbook" types. Called MS65 and CC#1 in the Noyes census, his photo #31430. Our grade is MS64+, tied for CC#1 honors with one other piece in the Grellman census. This is another cent Ted graded MS70.
Estimated Value $4,000-UP.
Ex New Netherlands Coin Co. #56, 6/28/62:600.
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| Realized $33,350 |
