1822 1C N-4, BN MS(PCGS#36721)

The January 2013 Americana Sale

Auctioneer

Stack's Bowers

Lot Number

13033

Grade

MS65

Price

15,275

Lot Description

1822 Matron Head Cent. N-4. Rarity-2. Noyes Die State B/B. MS-65 BN (PCGS). CAC. <strong>Die Variety: </strong>Newcomb-4 is one of 14 varieties of the date currently known.<strong>&nbsp;</strong>Star 1 is closer to the date than star 2.<br /> <br /> <strong>Die State:</strong> Partial inner circle at dentils from 7 to 1 o'clock on the obverse, doubled bottom serif on the E in ONE and CENT.<strong><br /> <br /> Strike:</strong> Sharply struck save for the radials on several obverse stars.<br /> <br /> <strong>Surfaces: </strong>Glossy deep golden-tan with lively cartwheel luster and traces of mint orange in the protected areas, especially on the reverse. Marks are minimal and no single blemish draws the viewer's eye. A choice and appealing Gem.<br /> <br /> <strong>Census Rankings: </strong>Tied for finest known in the Noyes census, number 1 in the Bland census. Noyes calls it MS-65 Choice; Bland calls it MS-65; McCawley-Grellman calls it MS-64+<br /> <br /> <strong>Pedigree:</strong>&nbsp;Dr. James O. Sloss; Abe Kosoff's sale of October 1959, lot 146; Louis Helfenstein; Lester Merkin's sale of August 1964, lot 90; our (Stack's) sale of the Dr. E. Yale Clarke Collection of United States Coins, October 1975, lot 86; Jerry A. Bobbe, October 4, 1977; Myles Z. Gerson, July 1980; Ira &amp; Larry Goldberg's sale of the R. E. "Ted" Naftzger, Jr. Collection, Part II, February 2009, lot 125; Cardinal Collection.<br /> <br /> <strong>Commentary:&nbsp;</strong>The late Jim Sloss was a great friend of the present reviewer (QDB). He was a gentleman deluxe, gracious and modest in his character, and very knowledgeable. He and his family lived in a beautiful home overlooking the Ohio River. I remember attending the Sloss sale in New York City in October 1959. These were the days without the Internet, of course, and telephone bidding, when it occurred on occasion, usually was criticized by people in the audience who traveled to attend in person. Thus, the success of any sale, quite u