TNA HOF Collection Pt 1

LOT 1165 1847 N-26/17 R3+ AU55+. Very attractive glossy medium brown with frosty mint luster in the fields and protected areas. Looks choice mint state but there is a hint of friction on the highpoints of the ear and a few tiny ticks on the cheek. The reverse is mint state. (The center of the obverse is bulged outward ever so slightly on later states of this variety causing the ear to wear first). E-MDS, die state b, with a fine die crack at TED to the dentils over the adjacent S. Sharply struck with great eye appeal, and it comes with a nice provenance. This is N-26. 

Ex Willard C. Blaisdell 9/1976 (via Del Bland)-R. E. “Ted” Naftzger, Jr. (via William C. Noyes)-Fred H. Borcherdt Collection (includes the Blaisdell and Naftzger collection envelopes)

RED & BROWN N-26

LOT 1166 1847 N-26/17 R3+ MS62. Lustrous mint red fading to light olive with nearly a third of the bright mint color remaining, mostly on the reverse. Would rate a higher grade but a glass reveals about a half dozen tiny carbon spots well-hidden in protected areas on the reverse plus one larger one under star 2. MDS, die state c, with die cracks on the reverse but no rim cuds. The usual “sandpaper” texture in the field before the portrait is obvious (from very fine die rust). A nice cent, tied for CC#5 of the variety. This is N-26.

Ex Fred H. Borcherdt Collection

LOT 1168 1847 N-26/17 R3+ VF35. Very attractive frosty light brown with medium brown on the highpoints. The surfaces suggest a slightly higher grade but the wear at the ear is a bit more than you expect at a higher grade. That’s a problem with later die states of this variety because the center of the obverse increasingly bulges outward causing unusual wear at the ear. The best identifying mark is a small nick on the nose. Rare M-LDS, die state e, with a strong rim cud over OF-A. The right end of the cud slants up to the right making the rim cud slightly larger than the one seen on the previous lot. Tied for CC#3 of the die state in the Grellman census. (This is Newcomb’s #17.) 

LOT 1167 1847 N-26/17 R3+ F15+. Slightly sharper but there are some light nicks on the cheek and neck, none strong but too many to ignore. Otherwise quite nice with smooth, glossy chocolate brown surfaces that have lighter brown toning in protected areas. Rare M-LDS, die state d, with a clearly defined rim cud break at OF-A (the right end of the cud slants up to the left). A nice example, CC#5 for the die state in the Grellman census. (This is Newcomb’s #17.) 

Ex Fred H. Borcherdt Collection

Ex Fred H. Borcherdt Collection

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