1821 Matron Head Cent. N-1. Rarity-1. MS-63 BN (PCGS).

1821 Matron Head Cent. N-1. Rarity-1. MS-63 BN (PCGS).，Offered is one of the most important 1821 cents that we have ever handled, a truly remarkable example that combines rarity with a desirable and interesting provenance. Both sides exhibit vivid multicolored toning that includes shades of deep rose, blue-gray, pale gold and steel-brown, deeper on the obverse, especially in and around the center. The surfaces display blend of satin and semi-reflective qualities, the latter evident in the fields, and more so on the obverse than the reverse. The strike is overall sharp, yet uneven with the upper obverse displaying thinner denticulation than elsewhere, stars 3 through 10 blunt and lacking centrils, and the top of Libertys portrait with some merging of the hair tresses. On the reverse, the leaves in the lower right portion of the wreath and the top of the ribbon are a bit soft. Overall smooth and visually appealing, light scuffs to first digit 1 and the digit 2 in the date are useful identifying features, as are several tiny marks in the reverse field around the letter E in CENT and above the letter N in ONE. Noyes Die State A/A, perfect with no cracks on either side or crumbling in the obverse denticles outside stars 5 to 7.<p>This is an intriguing and historically significant 1821 N-1 cent. The earliest known auction appearance for this piece is lot 459 in S.H. Chapmans November 1913 sale of the John P. Lyman Collection, in which it was cataloged as a Proof. That attribution remained with the coin in its subsequent auction appearances through 1988: B. Max Mehls 1948 sale of the Dr. C.A. Allenburger Collection; Abe Kosoffs 1952 Lee G. Agnew Collection sale; and our (Bowers and Merenas) 1988 sale of Part III of the Norweb Collection. It is also included as specimen #8 of the 12 Proof 1821 N-1 cents listed in the 1989 edition of <em>Walter Breens Encyclopedia of United States and Colonial Proof Coins: 1722-1989</em>. In more recent years, however, this coin has been regarded as a circulation strike, as evidenced by the MS-63 BN grade assigned by PCGS. Indeed, comparison with unequivocal Proofs from these dies that we have offered in recent years confirms PCGS assessment. Both the Pogue (PCGS Proof-65 BN, March 2017:515) and Twin Leaf (PCGS Proof-64 BN, July 2015:2083) specimens are fully struck throughout with boldly reflective fields on both sides. The present example has neither the striking quality nor finish to match, although as an early die state example with a semi-prooflike obverse it is obviously a superior quality circulation strike coin. In fact, it is probably one of the earliest circulation strikes produced after the Proofs were made.<p><p>This coin is also significant due to its high level of preservation. The 1821 as an issue is one of the scarcest among middle date large cents, the reported mintage just 389,000 pieces. The two known die marriages are of similar overall scarcity, and the typical survivor is in lower circulated grades through VF. This date is rare in Mint State with most such pieces from the N-2 die pairing. Newcomb-1, offered here, is a major rarity in Mint State with few offerings over the years. This is one of the finest known, and it is a coin that holds tremendous appeal for advanced early copper enthusiasts. Worthy of the strongest bids.，Ex S.H. Chapmans sale of the John P. Lyman Collection, November 1913, lot 459; B. Max Mehls sale of the Dr. C.A. Allenburger Collection, March 1948, lot 777; Abe Kosoffs Lee G. Agnew Collection sale, December 1952, lot 729a; our (Bowers and Merenas) sale of the Norweb Collection, Part III, November 1988, lot 2881; Heritages Denver ANA Signature Auction of August 2017, lot 3888.，