Goldberg Coins and Collectibles

Sale 115

February 16-19, 2020 Pre long Beach Auction

Braided Hair Cents

Lot	Photo	Description	Realized
Lot 171		1847 N-18 R5 Repunched Date, Large 7 over Medium 7. PCGS graded MS-64+ Brown. CAC. Repunched date, the so-called Large 7 over Medium 7 variety. Choice lustrous light olive and medium brown blending to light chocolate. Mint red shows on 10% of the obverse and nearly 20% of the reverse. The only mark is a dull diagonal nick on the nose before the eye. Otherwise this cent is flawless and the eye appeal is outstanding. The "moonscape" texture of the portrait is obvious, and this feature is present on all examples of the variety. (Similar "moonscape" texture is also found on all examples of 1846 Newcomb-16 and 1846 Newcomb-17. The cause of this unusual texture is unknown.) MDS, die state a, before any rim cud breaks on the obverse. The fields on both sides are covered with microscopic die flowlines that create attractive cartwheel luster. The date repunching is sharp and clearly visible on all 4 digits. The first impression of the date into the die (using a 4-digit logo or "gang" punch) was lightly impressed a bit too high. Then the date was properly impressed into the die slightly lower leaving clear, sharp evidence of the earlier misplaced impression at each numeral. Since the misplaced initial impression of the date was lightly done, those digits appear slightly smaller than the deeply impressed ones. Hence, the misplaced 7 appears to be from a slightly smaller punch than the normal, deeply impressed one (hence the long-standing assumption that this is a "Large 7 over Medium 7" variety.) Regardless of the label we place on the repunched date feature, this is a great cent. Noyes graded MS63 and tied for CC#1 in his census, photo #39028. Our grade is MS63, CC#2 in the Grellman census. The attribution and Doug Bird Collection provenance are noted on the PCGS label. PCGS population 1; 1 finer in 65. (PCGS # 405929) Value $3,000 - UP Ex Dr. Sheldon Freed 12/1995 (via Bob Grellman)-R. S. Brown, Jr., McCawley & Grellman Auctions/Superior 6/2/2002:398-Douglas F. Bird Collection (includes the Brown collection envelope and lot ticket). View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $5,760
Lot 172		1847 N-31 R5 Repunched Date, Large 7 over Small 7. PCGS graded MS-64 Brown. CAC. Lustrous olive and bluish steel with 10% of the obverse showing mint red but only traces of faded mint color remaining on the reverse. The surfaces are satiny and choice, just a few microscopic ticks from flawless. Two closely spaced ticks right of the nostril and a small spot of slightly darker chocolate toning at the left foot of the 7 in the date can help identify this cent. E-MDS, die state b, with a very fine die crack at MER, the crack so light it is barely visible with a glass. The top of the "Small 7" is clearly visible above the "Large 7." Similar to the preceding lot, the size of the punches was the same. The "size difference" is a result of the depth of the punching, not a difference in the punch itself. Our grade is MS62. Finest of only two mint state examples of this very scarce die variety in the Grellman census. The attribution and Doug Bird Collection provenance are noted on the PCGS label. PCGS population 3; none finer. (PCGS # 37370) Value $3,000 - UP Found unattributed on the bourse of the Santa Clara show 11/1997-Douglas F. Bird Collection. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $3,240
Lot 173		1848 Small Date Fantasy Cent, Breen-1901, Rarity-7-. PCGS graded AU-55. Lightly cleaned, now nicely retoned frosty chocolate brown with suggestions of reddish steel overtone. There are no traces of an undertype or multiple strikes on this piece. The surfaces and details on this example are clearly superior to any of the other 10-12 pieces known of this "variety," which usually comes with significant defects and/or heavy wear. The only marks are some very fine hairline scratches in the fields, mostly on the reverse. Weight recorded as 152.2 grains prior to being slabbed. The reverse is rotated 150 degrees CCW relative to the "normal" head-to-foot die orientation found on mint-struck cents. Called VF30 and CC#1 in the Noyes census, his photo #33548. Noyes says the next best grades VF20 and this is followed by a F12 in a census that contains 13 pieces (only 10 of those confirmed and photographed). Our grade is net VF35, CC#1 in the Grellman census, which includes a VF30 followed by a F12 in third place among 10 confirmed examples. Regardless of the census used, the piece offered here is the undisputed finest known of this very popular rarity. Newcomb devoted a couple pages in his book on the series to the "Small Date" 1848 cent, and most of the top collections have contained an example; none superior to this one. The attribution and Doug Bird Collection provenance are noted on the PCGS label. PCGS population 1; none finer. (PCGS # 403850) Value $12,500 - UP Ex Chris McCawley, McCawley & Grellman Auctions 1/7/1995:646 (via Tony Terranova)-R. E. Naftzger, Jr.-Naftzger Estate, McCawley & Grellman Auctions/Goldbergs 9/7/2009:900-Douglas F. Bird Collection (Naftzger collection envelope and both lot tickets included). View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $10,800
Lot 174		1849 N-27 R4 Doubled Die Reverse. PCGS graded MS-63 Brown. CAC. Lustrous medium brown and light chocolate with some darker bluish olive brown on the reverse. Satiny mint frost covers this cent and the eye appeal is excellent. The only notable marks are two tiny, curved scratches near the dentils over star 3. MDS, die state b. The spike down from the dentils over the right side of star 9 is clear and there is no die roughness on the reverse. The shoulder and curl over the 49 is softly struck thanks to debris (oil or grease) on the die in that area. Otherwise everything is sharp. The doubled die feature (not machine doubling) on the reverse is obvious, especially along the top of STATES. Graded MS60 net AU55 and CC#2 in the Noyes census, his photo #38978. Our grade is MS60, tied for CC#3 in the Grellman census. The attribution and Doug Bird Collection provenance are noted on the PCGS label. PCGS population 1; 1 finer in 66. (PCGS # 405700) Value $600 - UP Ex an unrecorded source at the 1/1993 FUN Convention-Douglas F. Bird Collection. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $1,200
Lot 175		1851 N-41 R4. PCGS graded MS-65 Brown. CAC. Choice lustrous light olive and chocolate with mint red showing on 20% of the obverse and a third of the reverse (more mint color than seen on any other example of the variety). Flawless except for two minor contact marks. These are a tiny tick on the nose before the eye and a short, very light diagonal scratch on the cheek right of the nostril. LDS die state c, with a small lump or cud break on the rim over the left side of the E in AMERICA. Graded MS63 and tied for CC#1 in the Noyes census, his photo #38981. Our grade is MS63+, close to MS64, and CC#1 in the Grellman census. The attribution and Doug Bird Collection provenance are noted on the PCGS label. PCGS population 1; 1 finer in 66. (PCGS # 406777) Value $2,500 - UP Acquired from an unrecorded source at the 1/1993 San Jose Coin Convention-Douglas F. Bird Collection. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $1,920
Lot 176		1868 Judd-610 in Nickel R7. PCGS graded Proof 65. CAC. Frosty uniform light silvery gray. Nearly flawless; the only mark is a small spot nestled between the hair bun and star 10. The obverse and reverse dies used are identical (except for the 1868 date) to those used on the large cents struck in 1857, the final year of normal large cent production by the US Mint. Only a half dozen of this pattern are known struck in nickel. Noyes photo #61462. The attribution and Doug Bird Collection provenance are noted on the PCGS label. PCGS population 3; none finer. (PCGS # 60822) Value $20,000 - UP Acquired from an unrecorded source in 2004-Douglas F. Bird Collection. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $19,200
Lot 177		1868 Judd-611 in Copper R7. PCGS graded Proof 66 Red & Brown. CAC. Frosty faded mint red and bluish steel with overtones of lilac and rose. A very attractive cent that is virtually flawless. The best identifying mark is a microscopic nearly horizontal planchet fissure on the jaw, as struck. Same as the preceding lot but struck in copper similar to the regular large cents produced by the US Mint in the previous decade. Sharply struck with complete radials in all the stars, but the fields are not reflective; rather they are covered with fine die lapping lines from NW to SE on both sides. Six examples are known struck in copper. Noyes photo #61461. The attribution and Doug Bird Collection provenance are noted on the PCGS label. PCGS population 2; none finer. (PCGS # 70823) Value $25,000 - UP Acquired from an unrecorded source-Douglas F. Bird Collection. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $36,000