1825 1C Newcomb 5, BN N1BN 认证号30808989, PCGS号522136

Ron Guth

Until 2011, collectors and researchers believed the 1825 Newcomb 5 Large Cent was a case of mistaken attribution, as no one had seen an example since Frank Andrews first described the variety in 1883.  Then, in late 2011, collector Tom Deck purchased what he thought was a Newcomb 4 on eBay, examined the coin and concluded that it was a new variety.  However, instead of being a new variety, the coin turned out to be the long-lost Andrews 5, Newcomb 5 variety.  As of December 2013, eagle-eyed collectors have discovered five more examples, bringing the total census to only six examples.

Newcomb included the variety in his 1944 book, despite never having seen an example.  In his 1992 book, “The Cent Book 1816-1839” John Wright noted, “The coin listed by Frank Andrews as his number 5 (4-E) is an early-state number numbr 10. The specific coin from which Andrews made his ‘A-5’ listing is a boldly-struck number 10, later in the [Willard C.] Blaisdell collection, so the ‘long-listed Andrews 5’ is a fiction — one of Andrews’ few mistakes.”

Newcomb 5 combines the obverse of Newcomb 4 with the reverse of Newcomb 10.  Be sure to check the reverse of any coin offered as Newcomb 4.