United States 1828 cent
This specimen was lot 1088 in Stack's Bowers August 2020 auction, where it sold for $19,200. The lot description noted,
"1828 Matron Head Cent. N-2. Rarity-2. Large Narrow Date. MS-65 RB (PCGS). CAC. Obv: A head of Liberty faces left with 13 stars around the border and the date 1828 below. She is wearing a coronet inscribed LIBERTY, her hair tied into a bun at the back of her head by a plain cord. Rev: A circular wreath encloses the denomination ONE CENT with the legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA around the border. Die Variety: Newcomb-2. Obv: Large Narrow Date, the digits 82 nearly touching at top. In the word LIBERTY, the letters BER are repunched, the E higher than the adjacent R. A faint die line is in the field between the base of the digits 28 in the date. A workhorse die, this obverse also appears in the 1828 N-3, N-4, N-5 and N-12 pairings. Rev: "I dotted" in AMERICA with a denticle centered above the upright of that letter. The letter A in STATES is above the preceding T at the base, and the final letter A in AMERICA nearly touches the branch stem. The 1828 N-2 represents the only use of this reverse die. Most die marriages of this issue correspond to the Large Narrow Date Guide Book variety of the 1828 Matron Head cent. Die State: Noyes A/A. Obv: Perfect. Rev: Perfect. Rarity-2: 751 to 1,000 coins in all grades.
Strike: This is a sharp early die state, the denticulation full and uniform around both sides from a well centered impression. All design elements are boldly rendered; the full radial lines to the stars on the obverse are particularly noteworthy. Plenty of vivid mint color remains on the obverse, where bright pinkish-orange dominates with slight fading to golden-brown patina. The reverse is richly toned in medium brown with pale powder blue undertones and, in the protected areas around the design elements, appreciable remnants of mint color. Both sides are lustrous and frosty with an overall smooth, virtually pristine appearance. A thin, faint scuff through the base of Liberty's portrait and a tiny toning spot near the obverse border between stars 3 and 4 are mentioned for provenance purposes. This is a truly outstanding 1828 Newcomb-2 cent, with an EAC grade of MS-65 from Noyes, Bland and Grellman. CC#1 in both the Noyes and Bland census listings, even the most advanced early copper cabinet will be enhanced by the inclusion of this beautiful Gem.
From the ESM Collection. Earlier ex Dr. George P. French; B. Max Mehl's Fixed Price List of 1929, lot 478; T. James Clarke; B. Max Mehl's sale of June 1945, lot 1778; R.T. McPherson; our (Stack's) sale of the R.T. McPherson Collection, February 1953, lot 183; George A. Cass; our (Stack's) Empire Collection Sale (Cass), November 1957, lot 238; Emanuel Taylor, October 1960; R.E. "Ted" Naftzger, Jr.; Ira & Larry Goldberg's sale of the R.E. "Ted" Naftzger, Jr. Collection, Part II, February 2009, lot 204. PCGS Population (all die marriages of the Large Narrow Date variety): 2; 1 finer (MS-65+ RB)."
This type, struck 1816-39 in substantial quantities, is available in circulated condition. Many varieties exist and all are avidly collected altho the date is common as a whole.
Recorded Mintage: 2,260,624.
Specification: 10.89 g, copper, 28-29 mm diameter, plain edge, designed by Christian Gobrecht.
Catalog reference: KM 45.
- Alexander, David T., Coin World Comprehensive Catalog & Encyclopedia of United States Coins, Sidney, OH: Amos Press, 1995.
- Breen, Walter H., Walter Breen's Complete Encyclopedia of U. S. and Colonial Coins, New York: Doubleday, 1987.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- Yeoman, R. S., and Kenneth Bressett (ed.), A Guide Book of United States Coins, 65th Ed., Atlanta, GA: Whitman Publishing, 2011.
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