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97
Finest 1796 NC-2 By A Wide Margin
91
1796 NC-2 R7 Draped Bust, Reverse of 1795. PCGS graded AU-53.
CAC APPROVED
.
Very attractive frosty medium chocolate brown
with slightly darker steel brown toning on the highpoints and lighter
brown toning in protected areas on the reverse. No spots, stains, or
traces of roughness. The only defects are some trivial contact marks,
and the only notable ones among them are a tiny rim bruise or dull rim
nick under the right side of the 6 and a tiny pinprick tucked under the
right end of the wreath stem. Only 9 examples are known and this is the
discovery coin for the variety. It is plated in the Breen encyclopedia and
the 1991 Noyes reference. Graded EF40 and finest known in the Noyes
census (#2 is VG8), his photo #23906. Bland says EF45 and CC#1 over
a corroded net F12 example in his census. From the standpoint of rarity
and relative condition, this cent is a highlight of the sale.
Our grade is
EF40.
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 at PCGS (PCGS # 35837)
Estimated Value...................................................................... $25,000-UP
Ex James B. Wilson, Thomas L. Elder #21, 10/1908:998-Henry Chap-
man-Albert F. Holden 1913-Mrs. R. Henry Norweb, Bowers & Merena
11/18/1988:2741-R. E. Naftzger, Jr., 2/23/1992-Eric Streiner 6/6/1992
(Naftzger collection envelope included, and it contains a handwritten
annotation from Naftzger indicating that he traveled to New York just
to get this cent in the auction).