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Sharpest 1798 S-144 Rarity
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1798 S-144 R5+ Style I Hair, Large 8 PCGS Genuine, AU Details,
Environmental Damage.
Mostly glossy medium brown and light
chocolate but there are splashes of darker reddish chocolate and olive
brown on both sides, mostly on the reverse. The vast majority of the
planchet is perfectly smooth but the darker splashes contain extremely
fine roughness. No verdigris and only a few minor contact marks. A
small nick touching the bottom of the C in CENT can help identify this
cent. Sharply struck M-LDS, Breen state III late. The die crack passing
through the top of OF is strong and a very fine crack connects the E & S
in STATES and extends into the field under the adjacent O in OF where
it disappears. This is the Noyes plate coin for the variety in his 1991
reference, and it is the sharpest example known. Graded AU55 net VF30
and CC#2 in the Noyes census, his photo #21266. Bland says AU55
net EF40 and CC#1.
Our grade is AU50 sharpness net VF35
. Only 2
are known that grade better than net VG10, so there isn’t much from
which to choose if you want a high grade S-144. An important cent that
comes with a nice provenance (as you would expect). The attribution
and Naftzger-Reynolds provenance are noted on the PCGS Secure label
(PCGS # 36011)
Estimated Value ....................................................................... $10,000-UP
Ex Virgil M. Brand, New Netherlands Coin Co. #41, 9/1953:258-Dorothy
Paschal-Dr. William H. Sheldon 4/19/1972-R. E. Naftzger, Jr., 2/23/1992-
Eric Streiner 4/5/1992 (Naftzger collection envelope included).