1817 Matron Head Cent. N-16. Rarity-1. 15 Stars. AU-53 (PCGS).

Handsome medium brown patina displays tinges of olive and autumn-copper on both sides. On the reverse there are a few swirls of charcoal scattered about. The surfaces are hard and tight overall with good gloss and flashes of faded mint luster. A few shallow planchet voids at Liberty's jawline are noted. Otherwise boldly to sharply defined, less-than-perfect centering accounts for lack of denticulation along the left obverse border, thin denticulation at the upper right reverse. Newcomb-16 is a popular and distinctive variety of the 1817 Matron Head cent issue due to the 15 stars on the obverse. The present example, earlier from Colonel Steven Ellsworth's personal collection, is nearly in the same league as the PCGS AU-58 from our sale of the Twin Leaf Collection, Part II (March 2016 Baltimore:10024) that realized $2,233.

PCGS# 36598. NGC ID: 2252.

From the Q. David Bowers Collection. Acquired February 17, 2016, source not recorded. Earlier ex Baltimore, Maryland collection, February 1997; Colonel Steven Ellsworth, November 2006; Neil Dewitte, July 2009. Butternut paper envelope with attribution and provenance notes included.