1819/8 Matron Head Cent. N-1. Unique as a Proof. Large Date. Proof-64 BN (NGC). This coin was part of the fabulous holdings of John Jay Pittman for more than 40 years, commencing with his purchase of it in our (Stacks) 1954 Anderson-Dupont sale for $70. When it was next offered for sale, presented by the astute David Akers in 1997, it was described in part, as follows: "Full mirror fields and beautiful medium tan surfaces that are enhanced with magnificent, light iridescent multicolored toning that is a blend of various shades of blue, greenish-gold, violet and russet. The coin is very sharply struck with broad even dentils all around, and sharp stars. There are a few tiny scratches and marks, as well as a few pinpoint carbon flecks, spots and verdigris, but the overall appearance of the coin is still excellent." We find little to add to that characteristically precise description beyond noting the evidence of die clashing seen on the reverse center, just as mentioned by Noyes as "usually seen." Noyes Die State A/A. At the most generous of estimations, there could be two Proof impressions of this issue, this one which stands unchallenged, and a second specimen that has been called Proof in the past, including when it appeared in the 1910 Mougey sale as lot 121. However, the Proof status of that piece has been called into question in more recent times and it has yet to be confirmed by authority Denis Loring, keeper of the most complete census of Proof large cents. When C. Douglas Smith described this coin in our 1954 sale of the Charles J. Dupont coins, he did so with only the slightest hedge, adding "(?)" after his "Proof" designation, but then continued to explain why it was in fact Proof, commenting in closing that it "may be an extreme rarity as such." Walter Breen, writing in his Encyclopedia of United States and Colonial Proof Coins , listed this coin first, among two or potentially three examples but, as he suspected, there was duplication and only two coins were actually represented. Back to David Akers writing in the Pittman catalog, no question was levied on the status of this coin and his keen sense in such matters earned him high respect from his peers. Prior to our 1954 sale, the last public offering of this coin we are aware of was in the 1923 S.H. Chapman sale of the Dr. Henry W. Beckwith Collection. Noted large cent connoisseur, John W. Adams wrote in his study of American auctions, United States Numismatic Literature , that the Beckwith sale was "the finest collection of high condition cents of all time," shining impressive light on the first collector recorded to have owned the present coin. Dupont and Pittman are famous for the great coins in their collections, and as for Twin Leaf, our offerings from that cabinet in recent years speak volumes of the collectors taste for the finest coppers. PCGS# 81768. NGC ID: 2262. Ex S.H. Chapmans sale of the Dr. Henry W. Beckwith Collection April 1923, lot 54; Charles J. Dupont; our (Stacks) Anderson-Dupont Catalogue, September 1954, lot 568; John Jay Pittman; David W. Akerss sale of the John Jay Pittman Collection, Part I, October 1997, lot 196; our (Bowers and Merenas) ANA Sale of July 2003, lot 177; Heritages Long Beach Signature Auction of June 2005, lot 5122; Twin Leaf Collection; our sale of the Twin Leaf Collection of United States Large Cents, Part I, July 2015 Baltimore Auction, lot 2052; Heritages FUN Signature Auction of January 2018, lot 4745.
