NNP

1823 1C N-2, R.2, MS61 Brown NGC. Our EAC Grade AU50. This pleasing 1823 N-2 cent shows chestnut brown surfaces with hints of slightly darker color on the highest design points. The reverse exhibits additional splashes of olive toning. All design details are sharply defined. A few trivial abrasions appear on Liberty's cheek, with the balance on each side free of distracting marks. Variety: The obverse die of the 1823 N-2 Normal Date cent was reused to produce the 1823 Restrike. The reverse die reappeared on the 1824/2 N-5 cent. This is an intermediate die state with the dentils over stars 4 and 5 fused. Population Data (3/15): For both 1823 varieties, NGC shows only three Mint State pieces, this one from the Rasmussen Collection, an N-1 in the same grade, and an N-2 in MS64 Brown. Below them are 16 AU examples. Heritage Commentary: A single die marriage is known for both major date types, N-1 for the Overdate and N-2 for the Normal Date. Both are highly sought not only by variety collectors but also by Guide Book and date collectors. This is the key date among all large cents from 1816 to 1857, a year in which the Mint did not even record production of a single coin, according to the annual Mint Report. Only about two dozen 1823 large cents (both normal dates and overdates) are known in grades of AU or higher. Many of the production figures from the early days of our Mint can be difficult to interpret. The annual report omits any mintage for 1823, although other statements made by the Comptroller indicate a production of 1,225,000 cents during the year. Another entry states that the Mint Treasurer had 1,269,939 large cents on hand at the end of the year, those already delivered by the coiner, and that the chief coiner had the equivalent of 1,404,666 large cents in the form of uncoined copper. Provenance: Denis W. Loring (12/1998); Wes Rasmussen Collection (Heritage, 1/2005), lot 3479.