1839 1C Booby Head, BN MS(PCGS#1751)

August 2020 U.S. Coins Auction

拍卖行

Stack's Bowers

批号

1114

等级

MS66BN

价格

62,523

详细说明

Popular 1839 Booby Head Cent Impressive PCGS MS-66 BN Quality 1839 Modified Matron Head Cent. N-11. Rarity-1. Booby Head. MS-66 BN (PCGS). CAC. Type: Modified Matron Head. Design: Obv: A head of Liberty faces left with 13 stars around the border and the date 1839 below. She is wearing a coronet inscribed LIBERTY, her hair tied into a bun at the back of her head by a beaded cord. Rev: A circular wreath encloses the denomination ONE CENT with the legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA around the border. Weight Standard: 10.89 grams. Diameter: 27.5 mm. Die Variety: Newcomb-11. Obv: Booby Head, Liberty's shoulder exposed with a strong browlock. tar 9 is boldly repunched on the lowest outer point. This obverse die also appears in the 1839 N-15 pairing. Rev: There is no line under the word CENT, the split berry on the wreath under the letters TE in UNITED comes from the main stem, not a secondary loop. This reverse die also appears in the 1839 N-6 pairing. Several die marriages of this issue correspond to the Booby Head Guide Bookvariety of the 1839 Modified Matron Head cent: N-5, N-6, N-7, N-10, N-11, N-12, N-13, N-14 and N-15. Die State: Noyes B/B. Obv: Die wear has resulted in weak denticulation around the border and flowlines in the field. Rev: The reverse die is also worn, the denticulation soft in many areas and the berry under the letters TE in UNITED faint. Edge: Plain. Mintage for the Issue: 3,128,661 coins. Estimated Surviving Population for the Die Variety: Rarity-1: More than 1,500 coins in all grades. Strike: Sharply struck for the die state, the central design elements on both sides are virtually full and the stars around the obverse periphery are crisp with full centrils. Surfaces: Lustrous and frosty surfaces are beautifully toned in medium brown, with plenty of faded rose-apricot color in the more protected areas on both sides. As nice as one should expect given the premium Gem grade assigned by PCGS; there is a tiny toning spot in the obverse field between star 1 and the end of the bust. Commentary: The popular Booby Head Guide Bookvariety of the 1839 cent is identifiable by looking at Liberty's shoulder on the obverse, which is exposed. The reverse dies combined with the various Booby Head obverses also omit the line under the word CENT in the denomination. Several die marriages of the Booby Head variety are known, major design changes being especially prolific for the 1839 large cents. Indeed, the years from 1835 through 1839 saw considerable experimentation and modification of the basic Matron Head design type before the Mint finally settled on the Braided Hair motif that -- in its basic form -- would continue in use through the end of the large cent series in 1857. Such a proliferation of types has fascinated and challenged early copper enthusiasts for decades, providing ample collecting opportunities. Indeed, the term Booby Head dates back to the mid 19th century, probably as early as the late 1850s, although not standardized until June of 1868 by Ebenezer Locke Mason, Jr. in his Coin and Stamp Collectors' Magazine. As one of the finest graded examples of both the Booby Head Guide Bookvariety and the 1839 Newcomb-11 dies, this is a significant coin that would serve as a highlight in any cabinet. Provenance: From the ESM Collection. Earlier from Heritage's CSNS Signature Sale of May 2004, lot 5221. PCGS Population (all die marriages of the Booby Head variety): 9; 2 finer in this (MS-67 BN finest). PCGS# 1751. NGC ID: 225Z. Click here for certification details from PCGS.