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Sale 116
June 1-3, 2020 Pre Long Beach Auction
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Lot 156 |
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1864. Bronze, with "L". PCGS graded Proof 64+ Red Cameo. The key date Indian Proof Cent with the tiniest mintage of all, believed to be 35 pieces. Today around 20 are known, most fall into the Brown or Red and Brown category. Here is one of the very finest known, offering not only near Gem surfaces, but full Red color combined with the desirable Cameo contrast. Only 3 have been certified by PCGS with the Cameo contrast. A very important classic rarity. Identifiable by one small flyspeck on the obverse is noted between second and third feathers in Liberty's headdress, and of course more by the extraordinary contrast and gleaming mirror fields.
The tiny L was added five years after the quite popular Indian cent was launched (1859), and first appeared on a few pattern issues in 1863. Notice how the L is literally placed sideways on the small ribbon just tucked in by the lowest feather on the headdress. The L is the signature of James B. Longacre, who designed the Indian cent. Longacre passed away a few years later in 1869. As the addition of the L was tiny it generally went unnoticed and was adopted going forward after these initial 1864 bronze coins were struck for circulation. It is curious that when the Indian Cent was replaced in 1909 with the Lincoln Cent, that the designor's bold initials VDB for Victor D. Breener at the base of the reverse caused such a furor in Congress and the public, who promptly demanded they be removed from the reverse die. What we've learned is that the coin designers initials are okay, but they need to be small and inconspicuous on coins to be allowed. Only 35 pieces struck. Pop 1; 1 finer in 65 for Red Cameo. (PCGS # 82281) Estimated Value $100,000 - UP
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Lot 157 |
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1877. PCGS graded MS-64 Red. Lots of mint red remaining and fairly well struck for this key date. The 1877 Indian Cent had a low production of 852,500 pieces, coming in at the lowest for the Indian cent series save for the 1909-S. Near gem coins like this, with full RED color are in the highest demand from collectors as they cobble together such jewels into a fantastic and eye appealing set. This one offers a good strike and clean surfaces. This is far and away one of the most sought after issues in United States numismatics, and almost any collector who had a Whitman blue album knows how desirable an 1877 Indian cent is! Pop 48; 38 finer at PCGS for MSRD. (PCGS # 2129) Estimated Value $10,000 - UP
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