Large Cents 1803 S-246 R3 AU55 PCGS, CAC Approved. Choice

Large Cents
1803 S-246 R3 AU55 PCGS, CAC Approved. Choice frosty light to medium chocolate with lighter brown in protected areas on the reverse and a puff of reddish brown toning between the E & R in LIBERTY. The surfaces are smooth with light wear on the devices. The eye appeal of this cent is outstanding. The only notable marks are a few fine hairline scratches well hidden in the hair, a collection of microscopic ticks on the neck, and a small planchet chip at the end of the wreath stem right of the fraction (as struck). Well struck EDS, Breen state I, with die clashmarks on both sides but before the small lump formed on the bottom of the jaw (the so-called "Mumps" defect). Graded EF45 Choice and CC#1 in the Noyes census, his photo #21744. Bland says EF45 and tied for CC#2 behind the slightly finer example that is permanently secured in the ANS collection. This cataloger's EAC grade is EF45+. Comes with a nice provenance. The attribution and Doug Bird Collection provenance are noted on the PCGS Gold Shield label. PCGS population 1; none finer. 36356.55/37553773.
Ex an Australian dealer-Larry Plunkett (Plunkett Coin Co.) 2/1977-Richard H. Wright, Bowers & Ruddy 10/1977:863-R. E. Naftzger, Jr.-Myles Z. Gerson 1981-R. S. Brown, Jr., Superior 9/30/1986:364-C. Douglas Smith (via Jack H. Beymer) 11/20/1987-Douglas F. Bird Collection, Goldbergs 2/16/2020:103-Walter J. Husak Collection.

A California businessman and cattle rancher, Roy Edgar Naftzger, Jr., known as "Ted," was raised in a ranching family. He was born on August 23, 1925 and died on October 29, 2007. He attended Stanford University, earned a history degree in 1948, and a masters from the University of Southern California 38 years later. Naftzger formed one of the finest collections of U.S. large cents, and had an interest in other numismatic specialties. He was an avid fisherman who was inducted into the International Game Fishing Hall of Fame in 2002. Naftzger discovered the 1793 NC-6 cent variety.
From The Collections of Walter J. Husak and The Liberty Cap Foundation.

https://coins.ha.com/itm/large-cents/1803-s-246-r3-au55-pcgs-cac-approved/a/1370-2194.s?type=DA-DMC-CoinArchives-USCoins-1370-01042024

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