Lot 18
1794 S-29 R2 PCGS graded Mint State-65+ Brown. Choice lustrous medium brown and light chocolate with traces of faded mint red showing around the legend outside the wreath. Both sides are covered with attractive mint frost giving this cent outstanding eye appeal. The surfaces are nearly flawless. The best identifying marks are a tiny nick between the bases of the 1 & 7 in the date, a small spot of slightly darker toning low on the cap, and another spot midway between the second S in STATES and the O in OF. M-LDS, Breen state III, showing a fine die crack from the dentils through the R in AMERICA, myriad fine die cracks in the obverse fields, plus clear die clashmarks inside the wreath at ON and CE. Another beautiful 1794 cent in this outstanding collection. The obverse is plated to illustrate the die in Penny Whimsy, and the reverse is plated in the Frossard-Hays reference on the series. Both sides are illustrated in the Breen Encyclopedia and in the 1923 Chapman reference on the cents of 1794. Called MS60 Choice and tied for CC#1 honors with one other piece in the Noyes census, his photo # 22675. Bland says MS60 as well but tied for CC#3 behind two unconfirmed examples in his list. Our grade is MS60+. A very significant cent that comes with a long provenance of distinguished numismatists. The attribution and Paul Gerrie provenance are shown on the PCGS label. Pop 1; none finer at PCGS in Brown .
Estimated Value $100,000-UP.
Ex W. W. Hays (who added the attribution to the edge in light yellow ink) 1900-Charles Steigerwalt 1906-Charles Zug, Lyman H. Low 3/1907:24-Howard R. Newcomb, J. C. Morgenthau 2/1945:41-Willard C. Blaisdell-Del Bland-John Adams, Bowers & Ruddy 1982 FPL, lot 21-Del Bland 10/1984-Dr. Allen Bennett-Walter Husak, Heritage 2/15/2008:2031-Paul Gerrie.
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| Realized $189,750 |
