 1814 O.103. Choice Brilliant Uncirculated from an overall standpoint, but easily a Gem were it not for light staining on the central obverse. Toned with tawny gold and gray over lustre and still attractive, but the central obverse has acquired a patch of dark gray and blue toning, apparently since its appearance in the Pryor sale a little over a decade ago. The obverse has a faint die crack from the point of star five to Liberty's upper lip, and at least two sets of clashmarks are present. On the reverse, the die line is straight and sharp from the motto to the left wing, likely caused by a foreign object damaging the reverse die as opposed to a crack or clashing. Close to lower end of the Condition Census for the variety. Apparently some were saved from the time of issue, much to the delight of today's collectors.
Ex James Pryor Collection (Bowers and Merena, January 1996, lot 31); The Getty Collection (Bowers and Ruddy Galleries, May 1977, lot 738).
| |
|
