NNP

1839 1C Silly Head, N-9, R.2, MS64+ Brown NGC. CAC. The terms Silly Head and Booby Head have been associated with the cents of 1839 for a century and a half since they were described by Ebenezer Mason in his article, "Peculiarities of American Coins" in the June 1868 issue of Mason's Coin and Stamp Collector's Magazine: {blockquote}"The Silly head is more arched on the top than the last [Head of 1838]; has the lock over the forehead short, and the line under the word Cent on the reverse, but without the mint mark."{/blockquote} Mason's term "mint mark" is what we know today as a center dot. Apparently like always, this piece has a delicate bisecting obverse die crack from 11 o'clock across the head to 5 o'clock. An additional crack extends downward through Liberty's nose and chin. The dentilation on both sides is weak on this late die state piece. This impressive near-Gem example has lustrous olive-brown surfaces with considerable original orange mint luster. Only a small patch of green corrosion on the hair strands below the inner hair bun prevents a Gem grade assessment. Our EAC grade MS63. Ex: Eric P. Newman Numismatic Education Society.

Heritage Newman IX, November 2017, lot 15071, realized $2880. Images and description courtesy of Heritage Auctions.