Lot 342
1801 Draped Bust Cent. 1/00 over 1/000. . S-221. Del Bland graded VF-25. Sharpness of Very Fine-30 but a long line of minute nicks from below the corner of the eye into the top of the drapery on the shoulder. In addition, behind the ribbon is a scratch, another one across the double leaf below ED and a small nick touches the right base of D. Earlier die state with a rim break just starting to develop right of F in OF. Glossy dark olive from a protective coat of wax.
The line of minute nicks is pretty minor, but visible to the unaided eye. The fields are generally clean for the grade, and the coin has a pleasant appearance. On the reverse, the rim break has just started to form and can be seen on the tops of four denticles right of the F in OF. Bluntly struck on the lower left side of the wreath. An excellent cent for the grade assigned and worthy of a specialists collection.
Finding a high grade example of the "corrected fraction" is often a challenge. The original die, probably engraved by Robert Scot, had the fraction which read 1/000. After some kind words from the mint director or assistant coiner Eckfeldt, the visually challenged--or attention challenged--Robert Scot rummaged through his engraving tools and found the proper "1" for the fraction, and re-engraved the fraction to the correct 1/100, but the original error "0" is still quite plain. While not "rare", this early mint blunder has always remained highly coveted by collectors and is seldom available in high grade and with the Newcomb pedigree.
Estimated Value $650 - 1,000.
Ex: The United States Coin Co., 6/16:528 at $28; Howard R. Newcomb; J. C. Morgenthau & Co., #458 2/45:345 at $24.
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| Realized $978 |
