1856 1C Slanted 5, BN PR(PCGS#1997)

1856 1C Slanted 5, BN PR (PCGS#1997)

The November 2011 Baltimore Auction

Lot Description: 1856 Braided Hair Cent. N-5. Rarity-5-. Slanting 5. Proof-65 BN (PCGS). CAC. A splendid Gem coin that shows a fine blend of dark and lighter chocolate-brown toning on the obverse and reverse, with no carbon issues aside from a minute speck in the middle left obverse field. The strike is needle-sharp as expected for a proof, but what sets this piece apart is the top notch quality of the surfaces.<br /> Despite a rather prodigious mintage of these late proof large cents, precious few survived in grades finer than the Choice level. In fact, this is one of just 14 Gems with two seen a point finer by PCGS within this category, with similar numbers in the Red and Brown category. Noted expert Bob Grellman believes these were coined late, perhaps in 1857 when large cent production was wrapping up in favor of the new Flying Eagle design. A few hundred were struck in proof with the Slanting 5 variant from this pair of dies to represent the type.