Lot 759
1851/81 N-3 R1 51 over 81. NGC graded MS-65 Red & Brown. Lustrous mint red fading to steel brown on the devices, about two-thirds of the mint color remaining on both sides. There are a couple dozen microscopic specks of darker toning scattered over both sides plus a dull nick very well hidden on the upright of the first 1 in the date. Otherwise this cent is a gem. Sharply struck very early die state (VEDS), die state a early. Strong die lines cover the fields on the lower half of the obverse and the 51 over 81 (actually an inverted 18 as on the 1844 N-2 44/81 variety) is obvious. Undoubtedly all 4 digits were lightly punched into the die inverted followed by an attempt to efface the error that left all those die lines in the field around the date. This example is early enough to show a trace of the inverted 5 inside the bottom of the 8, but there is no clearly identifiable undertype remaining from the second 1 of the inverted date. Nonetheless, it is reasonable to assume all 4 digits went into the die upside down with only the 185 surviving the attempt to erase the error. This is an outstanding example of the variety and a "must" for every collector of "Redbook" types. Our grade is MS64, and it comes with an outstanding provenance. The attribution, "1851/Inv 18" feature, and Rasmussen provenance are noted on the NGC label.
Estimated Value $2,000-UP.
Ex William Cutler Atwater, B. Max Mehl 6/11/1946:111-Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr., Bowers & Merena 5/21/1996:591-Chris McCawley-R. S. Brown, Jr., McCawley & Grellman Auctions/Superior 6/2/2002:878-Wes Rasmussen, Heritage 1/13/2005:3771.
|
| |
| Realized $3,565 |
