The desire to secure a series of cents while they could be obtained from circulation, is generally conceded as being the prime factor in developing a taste for numismatics in this country, which has increased until collectors may be numbered by the thousands.- Dr. Frank Andrews, The United States Copper Cents 1816-1857, 1883Deep fiery orange surfaces have just begun to fade to gentle bluish steel on the highest relief points while soft mottled violet is seen in the most vulnerable areas of the fields. Otherwise both sides exhibit generous original mint color. The fields are smooth and sharply reflective, contrasting nicely with lustrous and crisply defined motifs. Close study of the fields reveals extremely fine satin texture and faint parallel die finishing lines, both artifacts of the unique preparations of both the dies and planchet undertaken when producing these special coins. The Proofs are struck from the early states of these dies, Noyes Die State-A/A. Newcomb gave two different numbers to this die pairing, thinking that they were different dies. However, his N-13 was discovered to be the N-11 pairing in the late state, and has since been delisted as a separate variety.As one would expect of a Proof impression, all of the details are beautifully rendered, with Libertys hair curls full and flowing. The stars each show their full radial lines and central details, though a couple are slightly less sharp than the others. Bold dentils and high rims frame each side. The surfaces are remarkably defect-free beyond a couple of faint abrasions. On the obverse, one of these extends from near star 2 to the right of star 6, passing through the portrait where the satin finish largely masks its presence. On the reverse a similar mark passes beneath the left side of CENT and toward the E of UNITED. These are only seen at certain angles to the light and otherwise disappear into the lively and beautiful fields.While the number of Proof cents produced for this variety represents a notable expansion as compared to most known Proof varieties leading up to 1838, in no way did the quality suffer. In fact, this variety was made with great care. As a result, these are particularly attractive cents. As Frank Andrews wrote in 1883, collecting cents led the charge in the early days of collecting United States coins, but collectors were very few in number in 1838. His comments regarding "acquiring cents while they could be obtained from circulation," is also interesting in the context of a rare Proof such as this. Where, certainly, the majority of those early collectors sought nice circulation strikes which presented many challenges in their own right (such as the famous 1799), the Proofs of this era were intentionally made for a far more discerning audience. They were buyers who might be called the true pioneers of the style of American collecting represented by the D. Brent Pogue Collection, an approach where quality was not just desired, but essential. We have those few people to thank for the production of coins like this, and for the care with which they handled them before passing them on to later generations. Still, many such coins got mishandled and high-grade 1838 Proof cents like this are extremely rare today, with perhaps only four or five coins exhibiting generous red color. Some of these are spotted such as those once owned by the Garrett family and Ted Naftzger, while the eye appeal of this one is truly outstanding.Of the ten grading records at PCGS for Proof 1838 cents, none has been graded finer than this one which is tied with three others as the finest. It is worthy of mention that PCGS has graded one example as MS-64 RD, the only one called full red. Comparison of this specimen to images of that coin reveals them to be essentially identical in color.
