 1837 N.7, 8. Plain Hair Chord, Wider more Rounded Bust, Close Date, Large Letters. Mint State-63 with Claims to Mint State-65. Beautiful light brown to tan on the obverse, virtually free of contact save for a couple of microscopic ticks. There is one minute speck below the 'Y' of LIBERTY, and the reverse is perfectly matched in color and surface quality to the obverse. Thin arcing die crack on the upper reverse.
This is the earlier die state (old N.8) with heavy die scratches on the reverse. These were lapped off the die, causing the die scratch-less pairing (N.7) to be considered a different die pairing before researchers confirmed that they were the same variety. An interesting telltale collar die mark is present on the edge near the first star, almost certainly caused by the ''close'' collar where the opening seam was placed. Once a coin was struck by the dies, the two piece collar could fold open on a single hinge, eject the struck coin, and close upon the next planchet. In this particular case (and others), a thin line is present on the edge to confirm the location of the point where the collar opens.
Ex Harlan White; C. Douglas Smith; Herman Halpern Collection (Stack's, March 1988, lot 487).
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