Fred 2 Book

 PROOFLIKE EARLY STATE

LOT 509 1850 N-9 R2 NGC graded MS66 Brown. Choice medium brown and light chocolate with bluish steel overtones on the obverse. At least 15% of the obverse shows mint red, but only traces of faded mint color remain on the reverse. The fields are hard and very slightly reflective, and microscopic die polishing lines cover the fields on the obverse. Walter Breen considered those few pieces he saw in this early die state to be proof strikes, but we respectfully disagree. However we do agree this cent has superior sharpness and eye appeal, and the partial wire rim on both sides is consistent with proof strikes of the era. Rare EDS, Grellman state a, with an uncracked reverse. The only notable mark is a tiny, very light rim bruise at the U in UNITED. Otherwise this cent is absolutely choice. Our grade is MS63+, but the eye appeal is consistent with a higher grade. Tied for CC#2 of those few pieces seen in this die state; tied for CC#11 overall for the variety in the Grellman census. 3909554-001

Ex Herman Halpern, Stack’s 3/16/1988:635-Chris McCawley 1994-W. M. “Jack” Wadlington (The Twin Leaf Collection), Stack’s Bowers 7/16/2015:2539 (as “a possible proof strike”)-Fred H. Borcherdt Collection

 UNLISTED DIE STATE

LOT 510 1850 N-9 R2 MS64. Choice lustrous medium brown. Satiny and nearly flawless with great eye appeal. A small, unobtrusive speck of reddish verdigris in the field close off the chin is the only notable defect. VLDS, die state c late. The earlier die lines on the obverse are gone and there is a fine die crack from the dentils above star 6 to the right point of that star and down to the coronet, faintly though the portrait to tip of the nose, then down towards star 2 where it splits into two cracks: one that reaches the upper right point of the star and the other that passes that star on the portrait side where it fades out. These cracks are very fine but clear, and they are unlisted in the 2021 Grellman reference. 

From the Fred H. Borcherdt Collection

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