Fred 2 Book

 LATE STATE N-1

LOT 718 1856 N-1 R1 Italic 5 AU58. A frosty mint state cent that has very nice eye appeal, but there are a few rim nicks including one at star 4 and another at the bottom of the reverse. Light olive and golden tan with mint luster covering both sides. Rare LDS, die state g, with five clearly defined rim cud breaks at D-STATES. CC#3 of the die state in the Grellman census. Comes with a nice provenance.  Ex Bowers & Merena 1/1990:1237-Martin Paul, Superior 2/3/1991:991-Wesley A. Rasmussen, McCawley & Grellman Auctions/Superior 2/8/1998:494-Chris McCawley 1/2010-Dr. Bruce Tucker, 2012 EAC Sale, McCawley & Grellman Auctions 5/5/2012:517-Fred H. Borcherdt Collection (includes the Tucker collection envelope)

LOT 719 1856 N-2 R1 Italic 5 MS63. Choice lustrous light brown with a few tiny peeps of faded mint red on the obverse. Satiny and choice with great eye appeal. A tiny speck of dark toning in front of the coronet is the only notable mark. The reverse is flawless. LDS, die state f, with fine die cracks on the obverse. Tied for CC#9 in the Grellman census. 

Ex Ted Kress 1991-Fred H. Borcherdt Collection

 EARLIEST N-3

LOT 720 1856 N-3 R1 Italic 5 MS62. Beautiful lustrous bluish steel and reddish brown with traces of faded mint red on both sides. An incredibly sharply struck cent with the finest details fully impressed. The rims are squared, the fields are hard and very slightly reflective, and this cent has great eye appeal. Would rate a higher grade but there is a tiny pinprick in the field before the lips, a faint diagonal hairline on the chin, a speck of carbon over star 12, and a small chip out of the rim off the end of the wreath ribbon. VEDS, die state a late. The only example seen in this die state. The die crack from the ear to star 2 is extremely faint, even under magnification (an uncracked example is unknown). There is extensive strike doubling on the reverse with finely tripled outlines on a few letters. A special cent with a few imperfections. 

Ex E K Coins (Lancaster, NY)-Fred H. Borcherdt Collection

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