1796 1C NC-4, BN MS(PCGS#35840)

August 2018 ANA U.S. Coins Auction Philadelphia, PA

Auctioneer

Stack's Bowers

Lot Number

277

Grade

F12BN

Price

4,800

Lot Description

1796 Draped Bust Cent. NC-4. Rarity-6. Reverse of 1795. Fine-12 (PCGS). There is reddish-brown and steel-olive color visible on both sides. This is a clear and appealing example for the assigned grade with no signs of mishandling. Softly struck around the peripheries, especially on the reverse. Some light superficial roughness can be seen. Perfect die state. This elusive variety was discovered by G. Wilharm before 1921, who sold his specimen to Clapp. The present example was unknown to the collecting fraternity until its first auction appearance in 1994. EAC grade VG-10 and tied with two other coins for CC#1 in Walter Breen's large cent encyclopedia (2000). Provenance: From the John Whitney Walter Collection. Earlier ex Coinhunter's (Catherine Bullowa) sale of June 1994, lot 279, unattributed; Edward Janis; the EAC sale of April 1995, lot 193; our (Stack's) 65th Anniversary Sale, October 2000, lot 74. PCGS# 1401. NGC ID: 223W. Click here for certification details from PCGS.