1807 Draped Bust Cent. S-271. Rarity-1. Comet Variety. MS-63 BN (PCGS).An exceptionally preserved example of this popular Comet variety with a provenance stretching back over 110 years. The patina is a toned in olive brown with suggestions of navy surrounding the devices. Glints of orange mint luster remain on the reverse and illuminate areas of the wreath and legend. The surfaces are smooth and frosty, with just a small mark near Libertys upper curl to serve as the only notable blemish throughout. A minor planchet defect at 8 oclock is largely obscured by the PCGS holder but visible under determined inspection. Evidence of clashing is dramatic surrounding Libertys portrait, and the eponymous Comet die flaws are now in a late intermediate state equivalent to Noyes Die State B-C. The eye appeal is strong and the overall technical quality is undoubtedly choice.We first find this piece offered publicly in Samuel H. and Henry Chapmans sale of the Harlan P. Smith Collection in May 1906. Plated in lot 1111, it sold to George H. Earle for $33, which was a bargain compared to the $160 he paid for the 1792 Silver Center cent in lot 1315. Earles collection was later sold by Henry Chapman in June 1912 and was called by Chapman the finest collection ever offered in this country. This Sheldon-271 was featured in lot 3443 and described as Uncirculated. Minute nick under bow and also on edge. Sharp, bold impression. Steel color. The finest specimen of this rare variety known. Noted numismatist George Clapp shared this sentiment, choosing it as his plate coin in his 1934 monograph on cents of 1804 to 1814.It was more recently assigned an EAC grade of AU-50 in the Bland Census of Breens large cent Encyclopedia (2000), tying for ninth place therein. Just four examples rank finer in this category on the PCGS Population Report, asserting the truly elite status of this example. We last had the opportunity to handle this piece as part of our August 2018 ANA Auction, and we are delighted to once again be offering it for the consideration of advanced early copper enthusiasts.Ex S.H. and Henry Chapmans sale of the Harlan P. Smith Collection, May 1906, lot 1111; Henry Chapmans sale of the George H. Earle, Jr. Collection, June 1912, lot 3443; Henry Chapman to William Cutler Atwater; B. Max Mehls sale of the Atwater Collection, June 1946, lot 38; Federal Coin Exchanges 1952 fixed price list; Federal Coin Exchanges 1954 ANA Sale, July 1954, lot 1029; Federal Coin Exchanges 1957 ANA Sale, July 1957, lot 127; unknown intermediaries; our (Bowers and Merenas) Witham and Sansoucy Collection sale, September 1992, lot 1081; our (Stacks) Orlando Sale, January 2007, lot 31; our (Stacks) sale of the Samuel Berngard and S.S. New York Collections, July 2008, lot 1111; our June 2011 Baltimore auction, lot 280, our August 2012 Philadelphia ANA Auction, lot 11191; our sale of the Collection of Thaddeus A. Tatum III, August 2018 ANA Sale, lot 1045. Plated in George Clapps The United States Cents of 1804 to 1814 (1934).
