1839 Modified Matron Head Cent. N-13. Rarity-2. Booby Head. MS-66+ RB (CACG).A gorgeous and wholly satisfying premium Gem, among the finest certified in any color designation. Generous amounts of original orange-red cling to the deeper recesses of the design type, delightfully brought out by a bold luster. Heavy die flow lines in the fields, some minor rim cuds on the obverse, and light die cracks through the word STATES are indicative of a later state of the dies. Nary a mark nor any other flaw are visible to the naked eye, although for provenance purposes we note a dull, ancient mark in the upper obverse field, between the top of Libertys head and star 7. This coin is very choice even for the MS-66+ numeric grade assigned by CACG and worthy of strong bids. The Booby Head <em>Guide Book</em> variety is exceedingly rare at and above this grade level, and to illustrate this we note that PCGS has certified only a single example in MS-66+ RB, with a single MS-67 RB finer.<p>The popular Booby Head <em>Guide Book</em> variety of the 1839 cent is identifiable by looking at Libertys shoulder on the obverse, which is exposed. The reverse dies combined with the various Booby Head obverses also omit the line under the word CENT in the denomination. Several die marriages of the Booby Head variety are known, major design changes being especially prolific for the 1839 large cents. Indeed, the years from 1835 through 1839 saw considerable experimentation and modification of the basic Matron Head design type before the Mint finally settled on the Braided Hair motif that - in its basic form - would continue in use through the end of the large cent series in 1857. Such a proliferation of types has fascinated and challenged early copper enthusiasts for decades, providing ample collecting opportunities. Indeed, the term Booby Head dates back to the mid 19th century, probably as early as the late 1850s, although not standardized until June of 1868 by Ebenezer Locke Mason, Jr. in his <em>Coin and Stamp Collectors Magazine</em>. As one of the finest graded examples of both the Booby Head <em>Guide Book</em> variety and the 1839 Newcomb-13 dies, this is a significant coin that would serve as a highlight in any cabinet.PCGS# 1752. NGC ID: 225Z.
