46
Finest 1794 S-54
32
1794 S-54 R3. PCGS graded AU-58+.
CAC APPROVED
.
Frosty olive
brown and steel with hints of lighter reddish steel brown faded down
from mint color in protected areas on the obverse. The surfaces are
satiny and this cent has mint state eye appeal. There is a trace of fric-
tion on the highest points of the hair and a few tiny contact marks The
notable marks are a trio of tiny pinpricks left of the eye, a couple more
just left of the bottom of the cap, and a very tiny planchet flake in the
middle of the jawline. Sharply struck E-MDS, Breen state II, showing
die clashmarks on the reverse but no die crack on the obverse. Dentil
fusing connects several dentils over AM in AMERICA. In addition
there is a clear double profile from the forelock down to the chin plus
similar doubling on the bust. Graded AU50 and CC#1 in the Noyes
census, his photo #21974. Bland says AU50 and tied for CC#1.
Our
grade is AU50+, close to AU55.
This cent is plated in both the Breen
and Noyes references to illustrate the variety. The attribution and
Naftzger-Reynolds provenance are noted on the PCGS Secure label.
Pop 1; none finer at PCGS for the variety (PCGS # 35624)
Estimated Value..................................................................... $30,000-UP
Ex Virgil M. Brand-Burdette G. Johnson (St. Louis Stamp & Coin
Co.) 6/28/1944-Thomas L. Elder 7/17/1944-Leonard M. Holland,
Pennypacker Auction Centre 5/8/1959-Dorothy Paschal-Dr. William
H. Sheldon 4/19/1972-R. E. Naftzger, Jr., 2/23/1992-Eric Streiner
8/1992 (Naftzger collection envelope included).