1797 C-2 R3 EF45. Lustrous chocolate brown and steel with traces of frosty lighter steel brown toning in protected areas. The fields are hard and slightly reflective and this piece offers outstanding eye appeal. Close to AU50 but the portrait is covered with pre-striking microscopic planchet chips, as nearly always seen on this variety. The only signs of contact are a very faint hairline scratch in the field under the Y in LIBERTY and a barely visible rim nick above that Y. Sharply struck and rather well centered on the planchet. Later die state showing an area of swelling in the field left of the top of the cap. A beautiful example of arguably the most aesthetically pleasing die variety in the half cent series, a variety that Manley says is very rare in grades above Very Fine. Only two examples are known in mint state and the next finest grades AU50. Weight 81.8 grains. And it comes with a nice provenance.
Estimated Value $8,000-UP.
Ex Ellis Robison, Stack's 2/10/82:316-Jon Hanson (via Stuart Levine)-Chris McCawley 6/8/2001-Russ Butcher (via Chris McCawley) 3/17/2006-Michael Spurlock 5/10/2010.
The Whister Collection
