1785 C Nova 1/2P Die Trial, BN MS(PCGS#515633)

The March 2013 Baltimore Auction

拍卖行

Stack's Bowers

批号

305

等级

XF45

价格

175,986

详细说明

1785 Nova Constellatio Copper Die Trial. Crosby 4-D, W-1910. CONSTELLATIO, Pointed Rays. EF-45 (PCGS). 186.73 grains. 290 grains, according to Mr. Craige's envelope. Diameter approximately 36.0 mm. An important rarity in this series, only the second jumbo planchet Nova Constellatio die trial known to your cataloger, the other from our (Stack's) sales of March 1993 (lot 2061) and March 1994 (lot 83). That piece was coined from Crosby's 5-E die marriage, but the planchet stock appears to be the same, as does the centering and overall texture. That example graded "Very Good to Fine" with "traces of inactive verdigris on both sides ... surfaces uniformly granular," while this example is attractive and mostly smooth, with rich olive brown surfaces. A hint of thin patina is present on one ray of the radiance around the all-seeing eye, tiny speck of green verdigris near rim below 9 o'clock on obverse (Nova Constellatio side), a few minor scattered marks, hidden rim bruise near 8 o'clock on obverse. PCGS has certified this as a "die trial." The Crosby 5-E on a similar planchet was cataloged in 1994 as "struck from the rusted state of the obverse and thus probably not a trial impression from these dies." This example shows clear die clashing, but not as advanced a die state as sometimes encountered (i.e. Ford V:54, a later state). The jumbo Nova Constellatios are not described in any of the standard literature (Crosby, Breen, Whitman, etc.), and none were included in the Ford collection. This would make an impressive addition to an advanced specialized Nova Constellatio collection.