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252
Gem Red & Brown 1806 Cent
303
1806 S-270 R1. PCGS graded MS-66 Red & Brown.
Highly lustrous light steel brown and olive
with lighter brown and tan faded from mint color in protected areas and subtle overtones of bluish
steel on the reverse. The eye appeal of this cent is spectacular, although I would question if there
is enough mint color remaining to qualify for an “RB” designation. Nonetheless, this cent is virtu-
ally flawless. A microscopic planchet flake in the field under the end of the chin, a tiny tick on the
left end of the eyebrow, and a very light diagonal nick under the eye are the best identifying marks.
MDS, Breen state III early. The die crack from the dentils at K-4 on the obverse is short but visible
and there is a single set of die clashmarks. There is no trace of swelling at the date. This cent is plated
to illustrate the variety in the 1991 Noyes reference. Graded MS63 and tied for CC#1 in the Noyes
census (although he called it MS65 in his 1991 reference), his photo #21309. Bland says MS62 and
CC#1.
Our grade is MS65 Gem
. The attribution and Naftzger-Reynolds provenance are noted on
the PCGS Secure label.
Pop 1; none finer at PCGS for the variety. The only example graded Red &
Brown at PCGS
(PCGS # 36437)
Estimated Value ..................................................................................................................... $40,000-UP
Ex England-Lester Merkin-Robert A. Arnel, Stack’s 1/1967:9-Stack’s (privately)-C. Douglas Smith-
Herman Halpern 12/11/1986-R. E. Naftzger, Jr., 2/23/1992-Eric Streiner-Jay Parrino (The Mint)-Dr.
Eugene Sherman 8/1997 (includes a Naftzger collection envelope on which the provenance is incorrect).