1820 N-15 R2 Small Date MS64. Highly lustrous mint red mellowing to steel brown showing at least 40% of the red on the obverse and 75% on the reverse. Sharply struck and very attractive, nearly a gem cent. The only marks are a small spot of darker toning at the dentils above star 4, another inside the 0 in the date, and another over the E in ONE. None of these spots contains carbon or verdigris. MDS. Very fine die rust covers the devices on both sides and there is minor crumbling inside the N's in ONE CENT. In addition there is sharp, clear doubling along the right edge of the ear (caused by die bounce). This piece was called "nearly MS70" by Ted Naftzger when he owned it and Bill Noyes has graded it MS68 and finest known, his photo #56018. Either way it's a great cent and a strong candidate for finest known honors.
Estimated Value $1,000-UP.
Ex Jerry Bobbe 6/79 (who called it "Best I've ever seen.")-R. E. Naftzger, Jr. (via Bill Noyes)-Chris McCawley 9/2003, The Northwest Collection.
Test Category 2
