Lot 328
1818 N-3 R3 Thin Date with "Twisted" Stars VF20. Ten points sharper but a shallow patch of reddish chocolate brown corrosion has been removed under the wreath ribbon. Otherwise the surfaces are smooth and attractive. Glossy chocolate and steel brown with lighter brown toning in protected areas. LDS with the reverse rotated 35 degrees CCW from the normal head-to-foot die orientation. What makes this piece special is that it displays the obverse die "twist" that is sometimes found on the earliest examples of 1818 N-7 (see our sale of the Dan Holmes collection, 5/30/2010, lot 93). Less than a half dozen of the similarly twisted N-7 version are known but this is the discovery coin for a "twisted" N-3. The twisting of the obverse die caused the date to appear thinner than normal and distorted the stars (especially stars 12 & 13), but the portrait and reverse appear normal. Since this piece was struck from the latest state of the N-3 dies, it is possible the minting press malfunctioned at the end of the N-3 run and was not repaired or adjusted as necessary until shortly after the N-7 dies were inserted and a few test pieces were struck. Regardless of what really happened, this is a very interesting piece for the die state specialist.
Estimated Value $150-UP.
Discovered by Rick DeSanctis.
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| Realized $317 |
