1794 H10C LM-3 MS (PCGS#38583)
The New York Connoisseur's Collection
- 拍卖行
- American Numismatic Rarities
- 批号
- 477
- 等级
- MS64
- 价格
- 670,964
- 详细说明
- 1794 Logan McCloskey-3, Valentine-3. Rarity-4. MS-64
(PCGS). As lovely a 1794 half dime as we can recall seeing, an impressively vibrant and lustrous specimen that at its last auction appearance in 1970 was described as follows:
“Bright, frosty, satiny ‘gem’ Uncirculated. Of top quality; no visible nicks, dents, scratches, or other imperfections. Pale gold toning. An excellent striking with even the central hair plain, and all breast and most leg feathers visible though not fully sharp; other details needle sharp. ...Exceptionally beautiful... This specimen is finer than the Valentine plate coin and is only surpassed, so far as we know, by a single presentation piece, long impounded.” Presumably this description, authored by Walter Breen, refers to the Eliasberg coin which Breen included in his Proof book as a presentation strike.
The toning, as described, is pale gold, framing a brilliant and untoned center on the obverse with neat peripheral color while the reverse is a deeper shade of gray with gold highlights. A single very thin planchet streak, seen only with a glass, descends from the rim through the horizontal leaf left of OF on the reverse. The strike, as described, is exceptional and the lustre and overall eye appeal is in a class well beyond other 1794 half dimes we have seen. Indeed, many of the 1794 half dimes in Mint State holders we have seen are so completely removed from the original quality of this piece as to be farcical. The fields show no marks, and so few lines, that we are left with no other choice to adjudge this piece worthy of a full gem designation. As a superb first year type coin from the 18th century, its desirability is obvious. Less obvious is how it compares to the seeming sea of coins of reputedly similar numerical quality. The New York Connoisseur, with his careful judgment and world-class eye, selected this piece for his cabinet and paid a princely $ 1,700 for it in the summer of 1970, a high sum but one commensurate with its preservation. Others with similar exacting taste should view this coin. We invite you to bring any 1794 half dime with you to lot viewing, most especially those few stand-outs certified at higher levels, and decide which one you really think is a better coin.
PCGS Population: 20; 7 finer (MS-65 finest).
From the New York Connoisseur’s Collection. Previously from James Kelly’s sale of the John Howland Collection, July 1940; Dr. Angus C. Black Collection; New Netherlands Coin Company’s 61st sale, June 1970, Lot 200. Perhaps also from S.H. and Henry Chapman ’s sale of the Thomas Cleneay Collection, December 1890, Lot 1630, as per Breen’s suggestion, though plate matching is inconclusive. The original New Netherlands lot envelope accompanies this lot.
PCGS #004250