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A remarkable specimen of this famed cent variety, one of the very finest in existence,
with every single one of the 94 stars boldly detailed and visible to the naked eye. Glossy
chocolate brown with tan highlights. The obverse surfaces, though exhibiting many
scattered marks, are smooth, with the reverse surfaces mostly smooth but for a shallow
patch of roughness within AMERICA and at the right top of the wreath. This planchet
quality sets this coin apart from most others of similar sharpness. A heavy dig is present
under Liberty's chin, with other less consequential contact marks elsewhere on the obverse
and scattered across the reverse, a tiny rim tick is noted over M of AMERICA, and a few
parallel pinscratches are present under Liberty's cap. The eye appeal remains positive,
and considering this is a Starred Reverse, the eye appeal is superb -- this variety seems
condemned to ugliness with very few of the 50 or so surviving specimens anywhere near
choice. Walter Breen noted that the Starred Reverse is "usually in low grades,
occasionally on defective planchets, and seldom showing all 94 stars, the border often
being weak at upper right." This piece is of very nice sharpness for the variety,
struck on a better-than-average planchet, and shows every star beautifully -- any Starred
Reverse of which this can be said is a beautiful thing. This example has been ranked
variously from 5th to 8th finest known, with a few of the higher ranking ones showing
significant flaws and the best one -- the Adams coin -- grading only EF-40. This piece is
the most recently discovered of the "nice" Starred Reverses, turning up
unattributed at ANACS in 1990. It looks as lovely as ever today, especially in comparison
with other recently offered Starred Reverses, and presents a brilliant opportunity to
acquire one of the most storied of all American coins.NGC Census: 1; 1 finer
(EF-40).Discovered unattributed upon submission to ANACS in 1990; David Akers' session of
Auction '90, August 1990, Lot 1508; Julian Leidman; Bowers and Merena Galleries; Dr. John
A. Van Arsdall; Auctions by Bowers and Merena, Inc.'s sale of January 1993, Lot 222; Dr.
John A. Van Arsdall; Bowers and Merena's 2003 ANA Sale, August 2003, Lot 120.
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