Lot Number 33
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1822/1 - O.102 R.4 PCGS AU 53
This is Chris Merrill’s spectacularly toned coin. It took $5,520 to bring it home at Heritage’s February 2018 sale, lot 4628. Do not confuse the rare O.102, offered here, with the deadly common “1822/1” O.101. I use quotation marks because the O.101, quoting Steve Herrman, “…is NOT an overdate,” citing exhaustive discussions among BHNC members, dating back to the 1970s. The O.102 “overdate” has also been questioned: what is that line/dot connecting the base and inner curl of the broad-based second 2? The coin is sharply struck with unmistakable indicia of prooflike surfaces, especially the reverse. The peripheral toning is electric! The lustrous centers are pale silver and gold, yielding breathtaking eye-appeal. Die state enthusiasts will note a spiderweb-thin die break from the rim at star 3 to Liberty’s chin, qualifying the coin as “O.102a” with a suggested rarity of R.5. Estimate: $4,000 to $5,500
