Important 1852 Gem Proof Half Cent First Restrike Breen 1-B R5. PCGS graded Proof 66 Brown. CAC. Reverse of 1856. Beautiful golden light brown with delicate overtones of bluish steel in protected areas. The fields are highly reflective with deep mirrors on both sides and this piece has outstanding eye appeal. The only notable marks are two tiny struck-through lines in the field right of star 6 and another under star 8, as minted. A knife edge shows on the left half of the obverse. This piece was struck twice, and the second impression was rotated 30 degrees CCW on the obverse (CW on the reverse, of course). The undertype bust and neck show very faintly in the field left of the bust and neck of the second impression (clearest off the bust tip), UNI shows more clearly under the wreath ribbon, and the C from CENT is clearly visible under the CE in CENT of the second strike. Additional very faint traces of undertype are visible on both sides. Stars 9-11 are flatly struck as a result of the rotated second impression but everything else is nicely struck up. An outstanding mint error; extremely rare on a proof strike. Close to gem. Weight 78.4 grains. Comes with a great provenance. The attribution and Missouri Cabinet provenance are shown on the PCGS label.
PCGS population 4; none finer. Estimated Value $8,000 - UP
Ex Dr. Charles S. Ruby, Superior Stamp and Coin Company, Inc., 2/11/1974:303 ($925.00)-William K. Raymond 9/8/1976-R. Tettenhorst-Eric P. Newman Numismatic Education Society (EPNNES)-Missouri Cabinet Collection, McCawley & Grellman Auctions/Goldbergs 1/26/2014:206.
Half Cents
