RuckerBookmed

S-18a - S-18b

CONDITION CENSUS S-18A RARITY

LOT 21 1794 S-18a R6 Head of 1793 F12 Edge device of 1793. Sharpness VF30 but covered with uniform fine to moderate granularity under slightly glossy dark olive brown and steel toning. No verdigris and the only mark is a tiny nick or scratch over the left side of the A in STATES. Nicely struck with a clear date and strong legends. LDS, Breen state II. The right leaf below the T in CENT is fragmented due to repolishing of the reverse die. The edge lettering is strong and the downturned leaf following DOLLAR is bold. Graded VF30 net F12 by Bland and tied for CC#3 honors in the Bland/Breen condition census. Noyes says VF30 net VG8 and CC#5, his photo #24086. The sharpness of this piece is equal to that seen on the finest known example of the variety. Comes with a nice provenance. $25,000 Ex Bruno Crossfield 12/1956-Willard C. Blaisdell 10/1974-William R. T. Smith-Dr. Edward R. Bush 9/1979-G. Lee Kuntz, Superior 10/6 1991:22 (as net F12, $7700, plated)-Tom Morley, Superior 5/1992:161 (as net F12)-Douglas F. Bird 4/24/1993 (includes the Morley collection envelope and lot ticket and the Bird sales ticket)