Caramel brown patina is broken only by a light accent of deeper olive crossing the forward neck and face of Liberty, extending into the left field. Another smaller area is seen at the rear hair curls. Otherwise the uniformity of the boldly lustrous surfaces is impressive and complemented on both sides by gentle bluish steel. The surfaces are virtually defect-free with just a small old mark beneath the 8 in the date, and another behind the head.The obverse is Noyes Die State-A as best identified by the clarity of the dot atop the lower loop of the 6, however, the dies are not "perfect." Light flowlining is evident on both sides as are clash marks, which are particularly strong on this boldly struck specimen. The reverse is State-B, or intermediate. Typical of the variety, the obverse is slightly out of alignment toward 5:00.Ranked second in William Noyes Condition Census listing of this variety and tied for finest graded among all 1816 cents certified by PCGS, this is an appropriately fine coin to lead off the D. Brent Pogue Collection of Middle Date cents.
