Lot 103
1818 14-Stars with Continuous Wreath Reverse. Struck "Counterfeit" from handmade dies. Rarity-8- F12. Obverse Double Struck. Fine-12. An intriguing "cent" struck from handmade dies that crudely simulate the Matron Head cents of that year. Similar to the famous 1848 "Small Date" cents that are included in the Newcomb book. Glossy medium brown and chocolate. There is not much actual wear on this piece, and the lack of detail is attributable more to the crude workmanship evident in the die cutting. The only marks are a tiny planchet chip on the rim at star 2, a small rim nick at TA in STATES, and a very tiny rim nick at that E. The obverse was double struck, similar to the only other example examined, but the offset between strikes is much smaller, at most a half millimeter. The difference confirms this is not a doubled die. The reverse also shows some doubling at TES-OF, and this appears to be from die bounce. A clear and rather strong radial die crack extends from the rim between stars 11 & 12 into the field under the hairbun. Weight 144.8 grains, and the reverse is rotated 150 degrees CW from a head-to-foot orientation (using ONE CENT in the center of the reverse to orient that side). Clearly the finest of only 3 confirmed examples of this strange "cent." DWH #2397.
Estimated Value $6,000-UP.
Ex Stack's 1/20/2004:2112-Tony Terranova 2/04.
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| Realized $10,350 |
