1797 1/2C 1 Above 1, BN MS (PCGS#1042)
June 2022 U.S. Coins Auction
- 拍卖行
- Stack's Bowers
- 批号
- 1147
- 等级
- AU55
- 价格
- 112,643
- 详细说明
- Exceptionally Original, CAC Approved 1797 1/2 Cent
1797 Liberty Cap Half Cent. C-1. Rarity-2. 1 Above 1, Plain Edge. AU-55 (PCGS). CAC.
A charming, thoroughly PQ example of this bold naked eye variety among early half cents. Satiny surfaces are hard, tight and pleasingly smooth. Closer inspection with a loupe reveals scattered carbon deposits and a few light marks on the obverse, but these are ancient and, in the case of the former, provide further evidence for the undeniable originality of the surfaces. There are no blemishes of note on the reverse, and microscopic roughness in the planchet at and before Liberty's portrait on the obverse is as made. Warmly toned in a blend of autumn and copper-brown and displaying a well centered strike that is sharp in most areas. Manley Die State 1.0, cataloged as "rare" by the author.
The famed 1 Above 1 die error is perhaps the boldest die punching error in the entire U.S. coinage series. The top 1 is thinner and lacks bottom serifs, indicating at least some attempt to efface it, but no great effort was put into its removal. Ed. Frossard, writing in 1879, seems to have mistaken it for a die break, perhaps incredulous that such a remarkable error could have been left in the die. Most specimens of this variety are struck over cut-down Talbot, Allum & Lee (T.A.L.) tokens, Breen's 1c attribution. Though this example shows no evidence of any undertype, it does not necessarily indicate a virgin planchet was used. In fact, Manley asserts that most, if not all of the coins that Breen attributes as 1a (rolled copper planchet stock) are simply examples that show no evidence of the T.A.L. undertype. The extremely rare and unconfirmed B-1b attribution corresponds to planchet stock derived from cut down spoiled cents.
C-1 is the most available 1797 half cent die marriage and the only one corresponding to the 1 Above 1, Plain Edge Guide Bookvariety. As such, examples are eagerly sought among type collectors. The surviving population of high grade coins is generous by the standards of the Liberty Cap series, but Bill Eckberg (2019) notes that "at least twenty are known in AU or better" -- a paltry total that is in no way sufficient to meet demand from quality conscious early copper enthusiasts. The condition rarity of the present example is enhanced by its standing as one of only two AU examples to have met with strict CAC approval. A highly significant offering worthy of the strongest bids.
Provenance: From the Cardinal Collection Educational Foundation. Earlier from Legend's sale of the South Texas Collection, July 2018 Regency Auction 27, lot 172; Legend's Regency Auction 33, June 2019, lot 41.
CAC Population (1 Above 1 variety only): 2 in all AU grades.
PCGS# 1042. NGC ID: 2228.
Click here for certification details from PCGS.
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