1854 N-20 R3 Stray 1 Punched into Dentils AU50. Glossy medium brown with frosty luster remaining in protected areas. There are a dozen small spots of darker toning on the lower half of the obverse, the largest one at the dentils just right of the date, plus a small rim nick at the second S in STATES.
MDS, die state a late. The die line at the throat is dull and weak but still visible. This example from the Reiver collection shows what Jules called a rim cud over star 6, but this is merely a planchet defect that resembles a rim cud. Nonetheless, this cent was mentioned in the attribution guides as a unique terminal die state for the variety, and years of searching for a similar example were unsuccessful (of course). Jules never found time to show his cent to this cataloger when I wrote the attribution guides, and would only provide a pressing, which was inconclusive. The die state was included in the guides based on the pressing and Jules conclusion this was a real rim cud. Only when the cent was available for examination during lot viewing for his sale at Heritage did it become clear the "rim cud" was merely a planchet flaw. (Perhaps Jules, who had a very sharp eye for detail, was uncertain about this cent and protected it from inspection by others fearing an unfavorable analysis.) Subsequent guides will be corrected accordingly, but this cent is important for the story.
Removed from an NGC slab graded MS63BN (NGC label included, and it shows the attribution and Reiver provenance). DWH #3020.
Estimated Value $150-UP.
Ex Jules Reiver, Heritage 1/24/06:20595.
The Dan Holmes Collection of Late Date Large Cents
