1800 Draped Bust Cent, Mint State-65 Brown (PCGS)
Sheldon 197: "Q Variety", Ex Gene Reale, Noyes CC#3

Sheldon 197 - Heavy V shaped die break extends from the rim down between IB, an irregular break connects the bottoms of BE, and breaks about the date make the first 0 look like a Q, hence the "Q Variety". This obverse is known only with S-197. (Rarity 1).

Natural bluish brown in color with a few areas of lighter tan, and just a hint of mint red remaining about Liberty's lower hair curls. Generally well struck, although from deteriorating dies, with incomplete detail confined to the drapery below Liberty's bust, a shallow relief area behind Liberty's nose, the opposing bottoms of ENT on the reverse, and the leaf touching the T in CENT. Any contact marks are both thin and shallow, with the most prominent congregating in the upper right obverse field. Overall, this early cent has very choice surfaces, easily deserving of both its PCGS and Condition Census rank.

William Noyes Photo #36124, and included in his condition census as third finest, graded "EAC MS60 Choice".

Provenance:

• George M. Parsons (Henry Chapman, June 1914: lot 1807)
• Carl Wurtzbach
• Charles Wheeler
• (Stack's 1976 ANA Sale, August 1976: lot 352)
• Gene Reale (Sotheby's, January 1998: lot 30)
• ONR Private Client