 1818/7 O.102a. Small First 8. Very Choice Brilliant Uncirculated, bordering on Gem. A magnificent coin that boasts rich coppery-gold toning spanning the obverse, with a thin frame of dark blue at the rims. The reverse is well-matched but is more silver-gray at the center, with gold and blue near the edge. Vibrant lustre throughout and a highly appealing coin for the numismatist. The strike is full and complete, with strong definition on Liberty's curls and stars, the eagle too is bold, with fully rounded knobby feet and claws.
On this later die state the top of the final '8' has filled, and the reverse die has a single set of clashmarks from Liberty's head. The overdate feature is still strong with the serifs from the top of the '7' attached like two little horns on the '8'. This obverse die was not used in 1817 prior to being overdated, as the first '1' in the date is significantly to the left of the '817', unlike any dies used in that prior year. An outstanding coin for the grade, and one of the top half dozen of this die state.
Ex James Bennett Pryor Collection (Bowers and Merena, January 1996, lot 39); Numismatic Associates of New England, August 1987.
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