1847 1C Newcomb 32, RB MS(PCGS#37344)

The January 2013 Americana Sale

Auctioneer

Stack's Bowers

Lot Number

13068

Grade

MS66

Price

9,400

Lot Description

1847 Braided Hair Cent. N-32. Rarity-4. Noyes Die State A/A. MS-66 RB (PCGS). CAC. <strong>Die Variety: </strong>Newcomb-32 is one of 43 varieties of the date. The obverse die was also used for Newcomb-11 and Newcomb-33; the reverse die was used only in this combination. Tops of 1 and 4 in date touch the bust and curl respectively.<br /> <strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;<br /> Die State:&nbsp;</strong>Early die state on both sides, with all salient die markers present, including the sharp line at R in LIBERTY, the die lumps near&nbsp;Liberty's eye, and die lines downward from the middle hair curls into the field. Reverse exhibits die lines over UNI at the rim; these fade quickly from the die.<br /> <br /> <strong>Strike: </strong>Fairly crisp throughout with just a few stars lacking full central radials; the reverse details are likewise sharp.<strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</strong>&nbsp;<strong>&nbsp;<br /> </strong><br /> <strong>Surfaces: </strong>Deeply lustrous rose-tan surfaces enjoy a wealth of underlying mint orange frost. A few toning flecks are seen with the naked eye, but no other marks of any consequence are found, even under low magnification.<br /> &nbsp;<br /> <strong>Census Rankings: </strong>The Noyes Census calls this specimen tied for finest known, and the McCawley-Grellman Census lists this piece as the finest known. Bland's Census terminates at 1839. Noyes grades the piece MS-63, McCawley-Grellman call it MS-65+.<br /> <br /> <strong>Pedigree:</strong> Tony Terranova, June 1985; Doug Bird Date Set, September 8, 1990 (via Bob Grellman); Ira &amp; Larry Goldberg's sale of the R. E. "Ted" Naftzger, Jr. Collection, Part III, September 2009, lot 802; Cardinal Collection.<br /> <br /> <strong>Notable Appearances:</strong> The present Gem Mint State coin is the Noyes Plate Coin in the 2012 edition of the book&nbsp;<em>United States Large Cents: 1846-1857.</em><br /> <br /> <strong>Commentary:&nbsp;</strong>With so many die possibilities in the offing, the vast majority