1721-B Sou, or 9 Deniers. Rouen Mint. Martin 1.1-A.1, W-11825. Rarity-4. AU-50 (PCGS).
Offered is the nicest 1721-B 9 deniers that your cataloger (JLA) has handled in a professional numismatic career spanning more than two decades. It is a sharp early striking from Martin's 1.1-A.1 die pairing without the obverse break above the letter E in NOMEN or the massive reverse break through the center. Detail is universally crisp with most design elements fully rendered. The surfaces are satiny in texture with excellent gloss, and they are devoid of all but a few trivial handling marks that are easily overlooked. Similarly insignificant are shallow obverse flan flaws that meander through the lower right base of the crown and bisect the letter D in DOM. Otherwise autumn-brown in color, splashes of steel-olive toning at the right reverse and throughout the upper field on that side add character. An example of this issue, from different dies, sold as lot 6245 in our November 2012 sale of the Ted L. Craige Collection, where it was cataloged, in part, as, "Exceptional eye appeal for the issue. Offered on its own, this would be a conversation starter and one of the best 1721-Bs sold for an extended period of years or decades!" That coin realized $23,500, which is even more significant when we consider that it was certified only VF-20 by PCGS. The present example is far, far superior and fully deserving of the AU rating from PCGS. If the Craige piece was "exceptional," "a conversation starter" and "one of the best 1721-Bs," this specimen has legitimate claim to the title of "Finest Known" for the issue. At very least it is a phenomenal example of this French Colonial type that belongs in the finest type set. Worthy of the strongest bids.
PCGS# 170192.