Pre-Long Beach Auction #84

1850 N-17 R4 MS62. Frosty steel brown with subtle overtones of light bluish steel. Generous traces of faded mint red remain visible, mostly on the obverse. Satiny mint luster covers the planchet and the eye appeal of this cent is very nice. It would be choice except for a small patch of shallow corrosion at the dentils under star 1. MDS, die state b. A delicate die crack on the rim outlines with a rim cud is about to form from star 6 to star 8. A sharp, attractive example of a tough variety in a neat die state. CC#3 behind two marginally finer examples, and only 5 are known in mint state. Removed from an old PCGS green-label slab graded MS64BN (PCGS label #1889.64/9215360 included).
Estimated Value $650-UP.
Ex J. R. Grellman 1/6/1990-Wes Rasmussen, McCawley & Grellman Auctions/Superior 2/8/1998:307-R. S. Brown, Jr., McCawley & Grellman Auctions/Superior 6/2/2002:828-Daniel W. Holmes, Jr., McCawley & Grellman Auctions/Goldbergs 1/30/2011:409 (all 3 lot tickets and the collection envelopes for Rasmussen, Brown, and Holmes are included).