Lot Number 114
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1839-O RE - GR-4 R.4 PCGS AU 55
Ex Dr. Charles Link. This important coin provides a fitting end to an extraordinary auction. It is the 2nd finest known of a rare die pair. The mildly prooflike surfaces are untoned, with a smattering of hairlines from short term circulation. A medallic turn of the dies, found here, is common to this die pair. A fully prooflike PCGS MS 63 GR-4 (with medallic turn) recently surfaced, after hibernating in a private collection for 35+ years. Dr. Link was first in line when it became available. Walter Breen saw that coin some years before it was offered (as a branch mint proof) by New England Rare Coin Auctions in its March 1982 Metropolitan NY Sale, lot 1419. Your cataloger was the lucky buyer! (Sadly, I parted with it later that year.) Breen mistakenly thought the coin to be a proof and espoused a theory that all 1839-O proofs would come with a medallic turn. Later research, incorporating information regarding the more famous 1838-O proofs, put the kibosh to Breen’s supposition. Est. $2,000 and up.
