Undated (1795) Washington Liberty and Security Penny. Musante GW-45, Baker-30E, W-11055. Copper. ASYLUM Edge, Corded Outer Rims. MS-64 RB (PCGS).A lovely specimen of this very rare variant. Glossy surfaces are primarily light milk chocolate-brown, though enough faded original red remains to have earned this piece the Red Brown descriptor from PCGS. The red remains close to the rims and in some other recesses and is vivid in these areas, but it fades rapidly into the brown fields. Very few handling marks of any kind are noted, but there is a large arcing planchet cutter mark passing just right of Washingtons nose that terminates at the rim to the left and right of GEORGE. This is a mint error and speaks to the conditions under which these pieces were struck and distributed.<p>It has been estimated that just eight to 10 examples exist with this distinctive rim treatment, but the number might be just a hair higher. We have four distinct specimens in our online archives going back to 2007, and it seems that as many as eight others can be fairly quickly found. It would appear that the number of corded rim specimens produced might be similar to the number struck with fire gilt surfaces, but the corded rim examples tend to survive in higher grades for some reason. It might point to a different distribution that resulted in them being more protected, but this is not likely to be sorted with certainty.<p>Even with the planchet cutter imperfection, this is one of the nicest examples we have seen, and it is the only one graded by PCGS with the Red Brown designation. As expected, it is their <em>CoinFacts</em> plate coin for the issue in RB.PCGS# 785.From our sale of the E Pluribus Unum Collection, Spring 2022 Auction, April, lot 1225.
