1840 1C Large Date, RB MS(PCGS#1821)

August 2020 U.S. Coins Auction

Auctioneer

Stack's Bowers

Lot Number

1118

Grade

MS65RB

Price

4,440

Lot Description

Vivid Red and Brown Gem Uncirculated 1840 N-6 Cent Large Date 1840 Braided Hair Cent. N-6. Rarity-1. Large Date. MS-65 RB (PCGS). CAC. Type:Braided Hair. Design: Obv: A head of Liberty faces left with 13 stars around the border and the date 1840 below. She is wearing a coronet inscribed LIBERTY, her hair tied into a bun at the back of her head by a beaded cord. Rev: A circular wreath encloses the denomination ONE CENT with the legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA around the border. Weight Standard: 10.89 grams. Diameter: 27.5 mm. Die Variety: Newcomb-6. Obv: Large Date, the digits 40 repunched at the inside right, a small circular hole in Liberty's ear. The point of the lowest hair curl is right of the upright of the digit 4. The 1840 N-6 represents the only use of this obverse die. Rev: A faint die line is evident within the top of the letter E in UNITED. The 1840 N-6 also represents the only use of this reverse die. Along with N-5, N-7, N-8, N-9 and N-10, N-6 corresponds to the Large Date Guide Bookvariety of the 1840 Braided Hair cent. Die State: Grellman b, Noyes B/A. Obv: Repunching to the digits 40 in the date is clear, point to the left from star 13 is faint, yet discernible with the aid of a loupe. Close examination also reveals a concentration of tiny die rust lumps at and behind Liberty's earlobe. Rev: The die line within the letter E in UNITED is still discernible, but additional lines at the denticles outside the letters UNIT in UNITED and RIC in AMERICA are no longer visible. Edge: Plain. Mintage for the Issue: 2,462,600 coins. Estimated Surviving Population for the Die Variety: Rarity-1: More than 1,500 coins in all grades. Strike: Well struck overall, the denticulation is complete around both sides, if a bit soft in isolated areas. The central design elements exhibit sharp to full detail. Most stars on the obverse are soft, especially 5 to 9, which are blunt with the centrils faint to absent. Surfaces: This is an attractive, fully original example that retains much of the original deep orange color on both sides. Steel-brown toning is most extensive through the central reverse, while the obverse has a few swirls of deeper patina over Liberty's cheek and below the chin. Frosty surfaces are carefully preserved and overall smooth, a tiny carbon spot in the obverse field above star 11 is the most useful identifier. Commentary: Be they a type collector, Guide Bookvariety collector, or specialist in die marriages of late date large cents, discerning bidders would be wise to pursue this lovely 1840 N-6 with vigor. Tied for CC#5 in the Noyes census with an EAC grade of MS-63, this is an outstanding coin that is sure to sell for a strong premium. Provenance: From the ESM Collection. Earlier ex Lester Merkin's sale of the Louis Helfenstein Collection, August 1964, lot 198; our (Bowers and Merena's) Lloyd M. Higgins, MD Collection sale, January 1988, lot 77; Jim McGuigan, November 1998; Eugene H. Gardner; Heritage's sale of the Eugene H. Gardner Collection, Part III, May 2015, lot 98038. PCGS Population (all die marriages of the Large Date variety): 8; 4 finer in this category (MS-66 RB finest). CAC Population: 6; 2. PCGS# 1821. NGC ID: 2266. Click here for certification details from PCGS.