1796 1C S-109, BN MS(PCGS#35798)

The Richard C. Jewell Collection

拍卖行

American Numismatic Rarities

批号

1129

等级

AU58

价格

428,340

详细说明

1796 S-109. Rarity-3+. Reverse of 1794. AU-58 (PCGS). Gorgeous rich glossy milk chocolate brown with darker design elements. Some lustre and even a touch of faded color remains, most notable around the date. The surfaces are pristine and essentially perfect: hard, smooth, and free of all but the most trivial marks. Two tiny rim nicks above L of LIBERTY, a very thin scratch above Liberty’s bow, and a few marks on the rim near 7:30 on the obverse that are mostly obscured by the holder are all that keep this coin from perfection for the grade, but as is the coin is choice in its purest sense — especially for a 1796. This coin is an entirely new discovery, previously unlisted in the Condition Census and unknown to the modern generation of copper enthusiasts. It is easily the finest known, as the current listing of top specimens is littered with problem coins. The Bland Condition Census includes the following: AU, but rough; MS, but scratched, cleaned, and recolored; AU, but showing corrosion spots — and those are the three finest known! The old CCl is im- pounded in the ANS and called 55 net 45 by Bland, a full 10 points lower by Noyes. Old CC2 in the Bland listing is CC4 in the Noyes listing — a Mint State piece that has been recolored and has two disfiguring marks in the left obverse field. That coin, once in the Whitney collection, was the finest available to collectors until the present coin turned up. The piece called CC3 in the Noyes list- ing is not even present in the Bland census, and Bland’s CC3 is first on the Noyes listing despite a severe net grade for raised corrosion on the reverse and possible recoloring. Were these all nice coins, ranking them would be a much easier exercise — luckily this coin may be something that Bland and Noyes can actually agree upon. Turning up a brand new finest known 1796 does not happen often, but when it does happen it’s more likely to be a VG-IO that edges out a VG-8; rarely does a brand new cent turn up that is so incredibly pretty. With so much eye appeal, importance as a major Guide Book variety (Reverse of 1794), and desirability as the finest known of a Sheldon number in an avidly collected year, this cent has everything and will undoubtedly see a great deal of bidding activity. Breen’s state IV, with a heavy crack through T of LIBERTY and a raised lump under E of UNITED. Accompanied by small box. From the Hogan Pond Collection