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257
Near Gem Red & Brown S-278
309
1808 S-278 R3. PCGS graded MS-64 Red & Brown.
CAC APPROVED
.
Beautiful highly lustrous medium steel brown and light olive fading down from
mint red with about 15% of the original mint color remaining. Satiny mint
frost covers the planchet, even the highest points of the devices, and this cent
offers superb eye appeal. The only marks are a small spot of darker toning in
the field over the tip of the nose and a collection of microscopic ticks on the
end of the bust. Otherwise this cent is an unqualified flawless gem. LDS, Breen
state VII, with a strong rim cud from star 3 to star 7. Both dies are heavily
worn, the latest state seen for this variety. Graded MS63 and CC#1 in the Noyes
census, his photo #30960. Bland says MS63 and tied for CC#2.
Our grade is
MS64,
consistent with the PCGS assessment. The attribution and 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 #
36461)
Estimated Value................................................................................... $30,000-UP
Ex Thomas L. Elder 4/1937:1538-Arthur A. Wells, 1981 ANA Sale, Bowers &
Ruddy, lot 2744 (where misattributed as S-279)-Kevin Lipton Rare Coins (stolen,
appearing later in the following sale)-Heritage #3, 6/1989:960-Tony Terranova-
Stack’s 1991 FPL, lot 15-Stack’s 1/1992:311-unknown-1992 ANA Sale, Heritage
8/13/1992:1491.