1807 1C S-274 Small Fraction, BN MS(PCGS#36445)

March 2020 Baltimore U.S. Coins Auction

拍卖行

Stack's Bowers

批号

3102

等级

MS63+BN

价格

289,576

详细说明

Outstanding 1807 Small Fraction Cent Sheldon-274 Newly Discovered CC#2 1807 Draped Bust Cent. S-274. Rarity-3+. Small Fraction. MS-63+ (PCGS). Deep steel brown over much of the surface with traces of faded caramel brown in places. The obverse is accented by light silver gray at the upper left and traces of original faded red through the letters of LIBERTY. Minor orange patina breaks are noted on the earlobe, hair ribbon and highest curl of hair and a few wispy hairlines will be detected at the lower left upon close examination. Otherwise, the lovely original color and soft luster is all that comes to the fore. The reverse is toned similarly, with slightly mottled flecks of red and more generous luster through the better protected fields. A single thin scratch seen just after UNITED is easily forgiven. Struck from the later state of the reverse with sinking of the die that resulted in a bulge left of and through the letters of STATES. Softness in the lower curls is related to this feature, while softness at the bust and OF is a striking anomaly that is frequently seen on this variety. This is a really incredible specimen of this desirable variety that appeals to a wide range of collectors. While the 1807/6 overdates and the famous Comet variety all come with small fraction at the lower reverse, the dramatic nature of those features have earned each of them their own distinct Guidebook listing, so this variety is a stand-alone for the "small-fraction" variety and thus an essential entry into Guidebook variety collection. It is also the only use of this particular reverse die, which is easily identified by the long, needle-like extension from the right end of the fraction bar. The obverse die was used in two marriages, this and the S-275 where it is paired with a large fraction reverse. Though this is not a rare die variety in terms of numbers known, it is very rare indeed in high grade. The widely agreed-upon finest known example is the former Walter Husak coin sold by Heritage in February 2008. That piece was graded MS-64 BN by PCGS and it was noted in the catalogue description as "the finest example of the variety, known since about 1900, yet it has never been offered for sale in a public auction." That coin has an illustrious provenance back to Hollis Page, and included such luminaries as Dr. Thomas Hall, Virgil M. Brand, C. Douglas Smith and Dr. William Sheldon. It sold for $63,250 in 2008. Until this offering, there were two coins considered tied for second finest known. One of them is the former Tom Reynolds coin, sold by the Goldbergs in January 2016. That piece was graded AU-53 by PCGS and brought $54.050. The other is the Dan Holmes-Haig Koshkarian most recently coin sold by the Goldbergs in February 2017. That piece was graded AU-55 PCGS and sold for $61,688. The most recent collection of spectacular large cents to sell, that of Doug Bird, was missing this variety. Any of these results taken alone could be written off as a one-time landmark price, but the three of them together paint a clear picture of consistent value for the high-end specimens of this sought after variety. This coin is a new discovery and being published here for the first time. While not quite as nice as the undisputed CC#1 coin, it isn't far away, and it is easily superior to both pieces long considered tied for CC#2. As such, it handily takes over the CC#2 position alone. It is a prize suitable for the finest of collections, whether that be one of Guidebook varieties or an advanced cabinet of the Early Dates. Click herefor certification details from PCGS.