1822 Matron Head Cent. N-14. Rarity-6+. AG-3 (PCGS). A desirable example of one of the big three Middle Date varieties, the others being 1825 N-5 and 1834 N-7, both of which are offered later in this sale. Smooth steel-brown surfaces are remarkably nice for the grade, especially so for this elusive and condition sensitive variety. Graded overly conservatively by PCGS, this is clearly a solid Good with strong borders on the obverse and just a little wear into the legends on the always weaker reverse. This piece is better defined, for instance, than the PCGS G-4 example we sold as part of the Twin Leaf Collection in July 2015 for $11,162.50, and that later realized $13,200 in Goldbergs September 2019 sale of the Scott Enterline Collection. A slightly sharper PCGS G-6 example with similar surface quality brought $18,400 in the 2019 EAC Sale.<p>This famous variety, which combines an 1822 obverse used on N-7, 8, 12, and 13 with an 1821 reverse used on 1821 N-1, was considered an R-8 at the time the Noyes and Wright references were published in the early 1990s when just three examples were known. A number of examples have come to light since but the supply still falls far short of demand, and the new discoveries have been almost exclusively low grade and/or damaged. The offered piece is one of the few pleasing, problem-free examples to be had and will be a cherished highlight in its next owners cabinet. PCGS# 36751. NGC ID: 2259. From the John McBride Collection. Earlier ex Jim Young at the 2009 EAC Convention; Ed Strickland, August 2010; Col. Steve Ellsworth, June 2020.
