1823 N-2 R2 PCGS graded AU58+. Frosty steel brown and chocolate with golden tan faded down from mint color showing in protected areas on both sides. A beautiful cent with just the slightest hint of rub on the highest points and no notable defects. The best identifying marks, and they are faint, are a small spot of slightly darker toning in the field right of the bottom of star 3, another equally faint one close above the outer part of the hair bun, and three more across the neck. LDS. There is a cud break extending inside the dentil tips at stars 5-6 that nearly touches the outer point of star 6. This is the final die state for the obverse before the die was retired, only to be salvaged from a junk heap and used to strike the 1823 unofficial "Restrike" cents decades later. Called AU55 in the Bland census. Noyes says AU55 net AU50 (reason for any deduction is unknown) and tied for CC#9 in his census, photo #35706.
Our grade is AU55 Choice. This is the finest example of the late die state listed in either census. The attribution and Fitzgerald provenance are noted on the PCGS label.
Population 1; 3 finer (1 in 62, 1 in 65, 1 in 66). Estimated Value $15,000-UP.
Ex Abner Kreisberg 11/1965:3400-Del Bland-G. M. Patterson:1137-Garry Fitzgerald collection.
U.S. Colonial and Copper Coins,
Large Cents
