Lot Number 31
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1818 - O.104a R.3 PCGS AU 58
Lester Merkin sold this coin to Floyd Farley in January 1968. Floyd, BHNC member #2, consigned the coin to my November 1999 MB Sale No. 24 (as a raw AU 55). Keith Davignon was the winner. He had it graded by NGC. Voila - MS 61! Floyd stored his coins in kraft envelopes which accounts for the lovely pastel blue, rose and silver-grey patina. The surfaces are immaculate. A light drift mark (planchet impurity) crosses stars 8-12. If you appreciate die breaks on your early halves, this one has a doozy, from the date to star 3. Davignon placed the coin in MB 39 (lot 21, August 2014) after crossing it to its current PCGS holder. Tim Osborne prevailed at $2,482, later passing it to his friend and BHNC colleague Tom Sears. What a coin! What a wonderful provenance! Estimate: $1,800 to $2,400