The completely original surfaces are aglow with orange-red luster, there being just a few scattered flecks of deeper patina. The luster is truly exceptional, as is the overall eye appeal. A tiny speck is hidden within the legs of the A in STATES and serves as an identifier. One tiny lint mark is noted below the inner hair bun. The long-accepted finest known example of this variety is the Hines-Starr-Naftzger coin, also a blazing red Gem. When Mr. Naftzgers coins were sold by Ira and Larry Goldberg in 2009, that coin was described, in part, as: "One of the most impressive cents in this collection of the very best pieces Ted could find in over 50 years of diligent searching." For anyone who knows of Ted Naftzgers legendary taste in fine cents, this says everything necessary.When the present coin last appeared at auction, the cataloger graded it MS-66 EAC, but commented, "this piece is equal to the Naftzger coin that Grellman grades MS67 [EAC] and records as finest known." It is worth mentioning that the Naftzger coin has a large mint-made shallow spot on Libertys neck, the result of a strike through error. There is no such anomaly on this beautiful cent. The offered coin is not listed in the Noyes Census, but the plates therein reveal it to be at least the second finest example of the variety, if not tied for first place with the Naftzger coin. Aside from these two, no other example of the 1848 N-9 variety has even half of the beautiful red color seen here.
