Fred 2 Book

EARLY CENTS AUCTIONS

LOT 746 1856 N-18 R1+ Italic 5 MS60. Frosty light olive and brown with about 5% of the mint red remaining, mostly on the reverse. A spot of dark reddish toning at the junction of the tops of the C & E in CENT is the only notable defect. MDS, die state b. The earlier die line at the R in AMERICA is gone; the lines at the throat and inner curl are dull but still visible.

LOT 743 1856 N-16/15 R2+ Italic 5 AU50. A mint state cent that was lightly cleaned and nicely retoned glossy dark olive brown and steel with very faded red in protected areas on both sides. The retoning is attractive and could pass as original; note the prior NGC grade of MS65RB. Smooth with just a few marks including a light diagonal nick under star 2, another on the throat, and a third under the hair bun plus some small carbon spots on the bust. MDS, die state b. The earlier die lines under the 185 and star 1 are gone (this is Newcomb’s #15). Removed from an NGC holder graded MS65RB (NGC label #286301 016 included). 

Ex Elliot Landau, Stack’s 2/4/1976:195-Fred H. Borcherdt Collection (includes the Stack’s auction lot envelope) 

EQUAL SECOND FINEST N-19

From the Fred H. Borcherdt Collection

LOT 744 1856 N-17 R3 Italic 5 EF40. A sharp cent, close to mint state, but this cent was whizzed. Frosty artificial red with steel brown toning on the devices. The only marks are a carbon spot under star 4 and some dull nicks in that same area. EDS, die state a, with fine diagonal lines from the bottom of the outer segment of the hair bun. Stars 10-13 show strong doubling on their right sides. 

Ex the Philadelphia Collection, Ed Hipps 2012-Fred H. Borcherdt Collection

LOT 747 1856 N-19 R2+ Repunched 856, PCGS graded MS64 Red & Brown. Lustrous mint red fading to steel brown with a third of the original mint red remaining, mostly on the reverse. Sharply struck with just minor marks and great eye appeal. A line of small ticks left of the date and a splash of darker olive brown toning (not carbon) in the field touching the main curl are the notable defects. The reverse is flawless. MDS, die state b. The fine repunching on the 856 is still visible, clearest on the 5 & 6, but the earlier die lines in the field behind the portrait are gone. Our grade is MS63, tied for CC#2 honors in the Grellman census. The attribution and Twin Leaf Collection provenance are noted on the PCGS label. 406224.64/33359027

LOT 745 1856 N-17 R3 Italic 5 EF45. Glossy medium brown with frosty lighter golden tan in protected areas. Light wear and minor marks including a tick left of star 12 and a puff of darker olive brown toning under the wreath ribbon. MDS, die state b. The die lines from the hair bun are gone and only a few of the earlier die lines over MERI are still visible. 

From the Fred H. Borcherdt Collection

Ex McCawley & Grellman Auctions 9/13/1997:372-W. M. “Jack” Wadlington (The Twin Leaf Collection), Stack’s Bowers 3/30/2016:11264-Fred H. Borcherdt Collection

Saturday, May 31 st , 2025 5PM CST

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