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Finest Known 1798 S-161
151
1798 S-161 R2 Style I Hair, Small 8. PCGS graded MS-63 Brown.
CAC AP-
PROVED
. Very attractive glossy steel and chocolate brown with traces of faded
mint red showing in some of the protected areas on both sides. Frosty mint luster
covers the fields and protected areas and this cent offers outstanding eye appeal.
The only mark, and it is insignificant, is a small spot of slightly darker toning
low on the cheek near the jaw. LDS, Breen state XI, with a strong cud break over
ATES. Graded MS63 Choice and CC#1 in the Noyes census, his photo #20052.
Bland says MS61 and CC#1. Both census lists show only this single mint state
example outside the ANS Museum, this cent being slightly the better of the two.
Our grade is MS60.
The obverse is plated in the Clapp reference,
Early Ameri-
can Cents
, and
Penny Whimsy
, and the reverse is plated in the 1991 Noyes book
on the cents of 1793-1814 to illustrate the late die state. The provenance can be
traced back more than 100 years, and this is the first public offering since 1906.
The attribution and Naftzger-Reynolds provenance are noted on the PCGS Se-
cure label.
Pop 1; none finer at PCGS for the variety (PCGS # 36047)
Estimated Value....................................................................................... $25,000-UP
Ex Harlan P. Smith, S. H. & H. Chapman 5/1906:1090-Dr. Louis H. Adler, Jr.,
3/1917-B. Max Mehl-Henry C. Hines-Dr. William H. Sheldon 4/19/1972-R. E.
Naftzger, Jr., 2/23/1992-Eric Streiner 4/2/1992 (comes with the Naftzger collection
envelope that indicates David Proskey was an additional owner before Hines).