| Description: |
Sharpness of Extremely Fine-45, but showing some trivial planchet flaws. A highly
important specimen of this rare variety, plated in the still standard work on early cents
and boasting a magnificent provenance. Smooth and glossy milk chocolate brown, an even and
ideal shade over nice quality surfaces. The reverse shows the most shallow and modest
roughness under magnified scrutiny, positively inconsequential to the excellent aesthetic
appeal. A single tiny pit is noted at the base of T in CENT, and a few similar and trivial
planchet striations may be seen on the obverse: a trio at the truncation of the bust, a
couple at Y of LIBERTY, and some other widely scattered individuals. A pinprick nick
behind the base of Liberty's cap is the only significant post-striking flaw. A tiny
planchet clip, half the width of the denticulated border, at the base of the pole serves
as the most useful identifier: it was Del Bland's mention of this clip in his census
listing that alerted us to the world-class provenance of this piece, though a tiny spot
under the bust truncation and one inside the rim below 3:00 may also be seen on the Penny
Whimsy plate. The appearance of this coin is lovely enough that it is bound to start at
least one argument on the flaws of net grading, i.e. penalizing a very pretty coin for
insignificant flaws. The grade of this coin in the Bland census is listed as VF-35 which,
while not leagues off, seems a touch too conservative. The obverse detail is perhaps
technically AU, as the late die state seen here (Breen state V, terminal) reduces central
obverse detail. |
