 1828 O.118 (Rarity-8 as Proof). Square Base, Knob 2, Small 8's. Brilliant Proof. Here is another extremely rare coin which stands on its own credentials. Breen mentions this specimen in his Proof Encyclopedia although he states that it is ''unverified'' as he did not have the opportunity to examine it. The fields and devices are those of a Proof with highly reflective mirror fields and well frosted devices. The coiner didn't complete the field polishing between the eagle's neck and the left wing, and this area shows frost similar to that seen on the devices. A splash of lemon yellow is seen on Liberty's cap, darker russet gold near the rims, bright steel elsewhere. Struck 1% off-center toward the one o'clock position, with the denticles missing in that area. For further identification there is a minute planchet flaw on the rim between the first two stars. The reverse die has an encircling crack through the legend and denomination.
This may be the only example from these dies to show Proof surfaces, as all others reported are circulation strikes. One other Proof is reported of the O.113 die pairing, that offered in the Norweb Collection, Part III, (Bowers and Merena, November 1988, lot 3092 at $3,190). Breen in his Proof Encyclopedia reports 4-6 known, but some may be reappearances of the same coin. Later in Breen's Complete Encyclopedia the number of Proofs reported jumps to 8-10 (combining all varieties) but this number undoubtedly includes duplication and coins which are no longer considered Proofs by today's more stringent standards. If such a large number of Proofs existed, this date would not have been lacking from the Pittman, Eliasberg or Garrett collections.
Ex Oviedo Collection (Stack's, September 1983, lot 804); Winner Delp Collection (Stack's, November 1972, lot 72).
| |
|
