This absolutely stunning Braided Hair cent was described as MS-70 by "Ted" Naftzger. Lustrous, satiny surfaces retain nearly complete medium orange color on both sides. Only the lightest iridescent brown toning is evident on the high points. Graded "MS65+, close to MS66" with a ranking of CC#1 by McCawley-Grellman in their cataloging for the Naftzger Collection. Noyes grade is MS-65 and tied for CC#2 for the 1843 N-4 dies, but tied for CC#1 for the late N-13 die state.The late state of the 1843 N-4 dies is identifiable by the absence of both the small die lump and the rim cud under the digit 1 in the date, as well as the reduction of the previously strong pair of die lines on the reverse at the top of the letter N in ONE to a single microscopic point. Noyes failed to recognize these features as constituting a late state of the N-4 dies and, instead, believed it to be a distinct variety, hence his N-13 attribution. The present example is among the finest known examples of both the N-4 variety as a whole and the late N-13 die state. It is an exceptional coin and this offering represents an important bidding opportunity for advanced early copper specialists.
