1839 1C N-3, Head of 1838, BN MS(PCGS#37228)

The January 2013 Americana Sale

Auctioneer

Stack's Bowers

Lot Number

13056

Grade

MS66

Price

12,925

Lot Description

1839 Modified Matron Head Cent. N-3. Rarity-1. Noyes Die State A/B. Head of 1838, Beaded Cords. MS-66 BN (PCGS). CAC. <strong>Die Variety: </strong>Newcomb-3 is one of 15 varieties of the date. Head of 1838. Beaded Hair Cord.<br /> <strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;<br /> Die State: </strong>From the early state of the obverse with no faint crack at Liberty's nose and mouth or at the 1 of the date. Reverse die state with the berry under M weak and nearly nonexistent.<strong>&nbsp;</strong>&nbsp;<br /> <br /> <strong>Strike: </strong>All but stars 3, 6, and 7 lack their radials, otherwise the central devices are sharp on both sides.&nbsp;<br /> <br /> <strong>Surfaces: </strong>Lustrous deep chocolate-brown with swirling cartwheel activity throughout. A sheen of vibrant blue iridescence is evident in a bold light source. <strong><em>Tied for finest BN example of the date certified by PCGS. </em></strong>No significant marks are seen.<br /> &nbsp;<br /> <strong>Census Rankings: </strong>Finest seen in the Noyes Census, tied for second finest in the Bland Census. Noyes grades the piece MS-65 Choice, Bland calls it MS-65, and McCawley-Grellman calls it MS-65+.<br /> <br /> <strong>Pedigree: </strong>Judge W.A.P. Thompson, Henry Chapman's sale of May 1915, lot 1464; Henry C. Hines, May 12, 1915; Dr. William H. Sheldon; Numismatic Gallery; our (Stack's) sale of &nbsp;the Floyd T. Starr Collection, June 1984, lot 377; Ira &amp; Larry Goldberg's sale of the R.E. "Ted" Naftzger, Jr. Collection, Part II, February 2009, lot 444; Cardinal Collection.<br /> <br /> <strong>Commentary:&nbsp;</strong>Offered is another spectacular, indeed memorable 1839 cent.