^Lot 59 1839 N-9 R2 Silly Head MS63+

1839 N-9 R2 Silly Head MS63+. Choice lustrous bluish steel brown and chocolate with faded underlying mint color showing through the toning on at least 25% of the obverse and much of the reverse. Satiny mint frost covers the surfaces and this cent offers outstanding eye appeal. Very close to MS64. The only defects, and they are trivial, are traces of slightly darker toning near the dentils left of star 5, right of star 8, and under star 11, plus a tiny spot of dark toning inside the bottom of the E in UNITED and another one at the right top of the C in CENT. Nicely struck E-MDS. The small spur to the left from the bottom of the 8 and the die lines to the left from star 7 are clear. The always-present bisecting obverse die crack is light. A beautiful example of the popular "Silly Head" type. Called MS63 and tied for CC#3 honors in the Noyes census, his photo #56031. Removed from an NGC slab graded MS66BN (NGC label included, and it shows the "Silly Head" attribution).
Estimated Value $2,500-UP.

Provenance: Ex lot 1153 in a Bowers & Merena auction-Dr. Wallace Lee, McCawley & Grellman Auctions/Superior 5/25/2003:893, The Northwest Collection.