Fred 2 Book

 PROOFLIKE N-21

LOT 643 1853 N-21 R3 MS62. Light brown and olive blending to darker olive brown in protected areas. Sharply struck with smooth, reflective fields on both sides. A very impressive cent, close to choice but there are a few minor spots including one right of the date, one at the truncation above the 8, and another between star 10 and the dentils. Extremely rare VEDS, die state a early. All the die lines are sharp and the fields on both sides are prooflike, one of only two seen in the earliest die state with reflective fields (the other piece is Naftzger-Grellman-Wadlington/Twin Leaf:2645). A beautiful cent in a wonderful die state, and it comes with an interesting provenance. 

Ex J. B. Boss 3/7/1931-Fred Clymer-Fred H. Borcherdt Collection

LOT 646 1853 N-22 R3 AU55. Attractive frosty medium brown with generous traces of faded mint red on both sides. The fields and protected areas are lustrous and this cent has mint state eye appeal in spite of a hint of rub on the highpoints. No spots or stains, only a few small contact marks. The notable marks are a light nick at the dentil roots at star 1 and a tiny rim bruise just right of star 7. M-LDS, die state b. The die lines at the inner curl and RI are gone.

LOT 644 1853 N-21 R3 VF30. Sharpness EF45 or slightly better but there are a few light rim bruises on both sides and the cheek has been smoothed. Glossy light to medium brown with frosty lighter tan in protected areas. Looks better than it sounds. MDS, die state b early. The fields are flowlined but some of the early die lines from the dentils at star 2 are visible.

From the Fred H. Borcherdt Collection

From the Fred H. Borcherdt Collection

LOT 647 1853 N-23 R3+ Stray 1 in Hair AU55+. A mint state cent that has really nice eye appeal except for a splash of dark, nearly black toning at the bottom of the reverse. Otherwise the toning is a very attractive light to medium steel brown with about 25% of the original mint color remaining on the reverse. E-MDS, die state a late. The fields are lightly flowlined but all the early die lines are still visible, just not sharp. The upper part of a stray 1 is visible hidden in the hair right of the ear.

LOT 645 1853 N-22 R3 AU50. Sharpness close to mint state but there are minor contact marks on the rims including a light rim bruise at star 12, another at CA, and very light file marks or scratches on the edge at stars 6-10 and over ATES-OF. Only the two rim bruises are visible with the unaided eye, and they are trivial. Glossy medium brown and light chocolate. Sharp EDS, die state a. The die lines at the inner curl and RA in AMERICA are clear.

From the Fred H. Borcherdt Collection

From the Fred H. Borcherdt Collection

51 Photos of all lots can be found at www.earlycentsauctions.com