Description:

1793 C-2 R3 Liberty Cap, Head Left G5. Off Center with Collar Post Indent. Several points sharper but covered with uniform fine granularity. No verdigris or circulation marks, and the toning is a uniform olive and steel brown. The surfaces are dull thanks to the microscopic roughness, but the date and legends are easily readable (at least those that made it on to the planchet). The edge lettering is complete and clear. Struck 20% off center to K-12.5. A strong indent created by the short post that held the collar in place on the press is located on the unstruck portion of the planchet. Fortunately for us, the planchet just happened to be off center in the direction of this post. The upper end of the post was slightly above the level of the coining chamber and the force of the strike created a deep, well defined impression of the post on the unstruck part of the planchet. In addition, the strike pressure against the post was sufficient to bend the unstruck portion of the planchet in the opposite direction from the indent. The struck portion of this half cent is not bent. Obviously the hammer die was the reverse. A truly remarkable error. While off center strikes are known throughout the half cent series, this is the only example with an indent from the collar post. Weight 98.0 grains. Davy #93.2.4.
Estimated Value $2,000-UP.
Ex McLaughlin & Robinson Auctions #4369, 2/27/88:398.

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