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244
Noyes Plate Coin For S-261
294
1803 S-261 R2 Small Date, Large Fraction. PCGS graded MS-62 Brown.
Lustrous
chocolate and steel brown with lighter steel brown toning in protected areas, especially
on the obverse. A very attractive cent that received an MS65 grade from Ted Naftzger.
The only sign of contact is a very faint scuff on the chin. MDS Breen state III early.
The die crack from the dentils up between the 8 & 3 extends through the shoulder and
hair but ends just above the lower end of the hair ribbon (an intermediate state not
mentioned in the Breen encyclopedia). In addition there is a shallow low spot covering
most of the neck down to the shoulder with a similar low spot inside the upper part of
the wreath (caused by debris on the dies). This cent is plated in the 1991 Noyes refer-
ence to illustrate the variety. Graded MS60 net AU50 and tied for CC#3 in the Noyes
census, his photo #21174. Bland says AU55 and tied for CC#2.
Our grade is AU58
. A
great cent with a great provenance. The attribution and Naftzger-Reynolds provenance
are noted on the PCGS Secure label.
Pop 2; none finer at PCGS for the variety
(PCGS
# 36407)
Estimated Value .................................................................................................. $8,000-UP
Ex Dr. George P. French 3/21/1929-B. Max Mehl (privately)-T. James Clarke 1944-Dr.
William H. Sheldon 4/19/1972-R. E. Naftzger, Jr., 2/23/1992-Eric Streiner, 1994 EAC
Sale, 4/1989:289 (EAC lot ticket and Naftzger collection envelope included, on which Ted
wrote “HRN & GHC called this FK N19, but both were feuding with Mehl, who sold it to
Clarke.” WS). You feud, you lose.