Lot 115
1846 N-1 R1 Repunched 18. PCGS graded MS-64 Brown. Mint state sharpness but very lightly cleaned, now retoned an attractive iridescent bluish steel brown and rose. The cleaning and retoning are subtle, which helps explain the relatively generous assessment by PCGS. The fields are prooflike with shallow to moderate mirrors, deepest on the obverse. The fields do show many microscopic struck-through lint marks and the rims are squared, both of which suggest a proof strike. The only notable mark is a thin diagonal nick high on the neck under the earlobe, and this mark appears to be a pre-striking flaw in the planchet rather than a post-striking nick from contact. E-MDS, die state b, with a very fine die crack that meanders through the date and stars and another fine die crack passes through much of the reverse legend. The strike is very strong with full radial lines in all the stars, and the fields are highly reflective from a fresh die polishing on both sides. A virtually identical example (except for the retoning) was offered as lot #704 in our 9/7/2009 sale of the R. E. Naftzger, Jr., collection of late date large cents, and it was graded Proof-65 Brown by PCGS. If that one is proof, then perhaps this one should receive the same assessment. However, neither piece is a real proof strike in our opinion. Our grade is MS60 sharpness net AU55. Called Proof-50 by Denis Loring in his census of proof large cents. Walter Breen also called this piece a proof, one of three listed in his census of proof large cents. We may never know with certainty what the mint intended here, and experts can agree to disagree on this call. What we can agree on is that this is a beautiful cent with highly reflective fields and a very sharp strike. And it comes with an impressive provenance. The attribution and Dan Holmes provenance are noted on the PCGS label. PCGS population 1; the finest of 3 Brown examples graded at PCGS for the variety. DWH #1860 (PCGS # 397608) .
Estimated Value $500-UP.
Ex Dr. George P. French, B. Max Mehl 1929 FPL, lot 648-T. James Clarke-R. E. Naftzger, Jr.-Eric Streiner-R. S. Brown, Jr. 4/17/99.
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| Realized $3,335 |
