1836 50C O-121, Bar Dot MS(PCGS#39962)

January 2024 Mail Bid Auction 57

Auctioneer

Sheridan Downey

Lot Number

42

Grade

VF30

Price

2,035

Lot Description

The rarest die pair in the Oertel collection.  The `36-121 was unknown to Al Overton when he published his 1st edition in 1967.  He rated it R.7 in his 1970 revision (2nd ed.).  Don Parsley settled on R.5 in 1990 (3rd ed.) and the BHNC has since added a + to the R.5 rarity rating.  This example last appeared in MB 44, lot 100, Jan. 2016: “On everyone’s short list of killer R.5’s.  Medium grey fields, lighter devices.  Luster hides in the star crevices.  The consignor acquired this rarity from Dr. Glenn Peterson.”  The coin brought $2,200, Oertel winning a tie, having entered his bid first. Estimate: $2,000 to $2,500