I cannot recall ever seeing one as attractive as this. – David W. AkersA blue beauty, sparkling with satiny luster and thoroughly toned a lovely powder blue. Very boldly struck at centers despite evidence of heavy die clashing, somewhat soft in peripheral elements as always seen. An exceptional gem, free of marks or flaws, as pretty as a picture. Its hard to conceive how a coin could be more boldly lustrous than this one.1807 dimes are the most widely available issue of this design type, frequently seen in major auctions even in high grade. Gems are rarities, though, in particular ones with this sort of original color and old surfaces. Akers described this coin as nearly pristine and as struck, except for the addition of absolutely gorgeous blue and greenish-gold toning over the last 190 years. Bluestones 91st Sale was not a notable event, selling 1,838 fairly pedestrian lots over a two day span in Syracuse, New York in February of 1946. The weather station at Syracuses airport reported a low of 7º with snow and ice pellets. When the auctioneer Bluestone woke that day, he could not have imagined hed sell a coin that would end up in the highest-quality cabinet of early United States coins ever assembled.
