| Description |
1800 $1 AMERICAI MS65 NGC. B-19, BB-192, R.2. Ex: "Col." E.H.R. Green. This impressive Gem displays a bold strike with satiny silver luster showing mild field reflectivity beneath delicate champagne toning. The obverse exhibits a wide ring of lovely iridescent toning with a narrow ring of similar patina on the reverse. Obverse Die. The present variety is the only appearance of the obverse die. A vertical die flaw appears near the border below Star 1. Reverse Die. The AMERICAI reverse was mated with two different obverse dies having a combined population of about 1,000 to 1,500 coins. The distinctive die line on the reverse has traditionally been described as a letter "I," resulting in the AMERICAI nomenclature. The actual source of the die blunder is unclear. The die line is nearly vertical with a slight curve at its bottom, perhaps the right side of a stray A. Some imagination is required to suggest it is an I or an A. The die line is clearly not a die crack, nor is it any form of die spalling or rust. Die State. The Eric P. Newman coin is in the usual die state with light clash marks appearing on the obverse and trivial die spalling on the lower reverse. Condition Census. The Newman specimen is the finest known 1800 AMERICAI dollar. The Notable Specimens list in the 2013 Encyclopedia records a single uncertified MS65 example from 1985. That listing also includes just six other Mint State examples of the two AMERICAI varieties, B-11, BB-191 and B-19, BB-192. Appearances. This specimen is illustrated as part of NGC's presentation of the Newman Collection at www.NGCCoin.com. Commentary. The 1800 "AMERICAI" silver dollar is a key type for die variety collectors, as well as for those who collect the early dollars by major type or Guide Book variety. More than two-thirds of those coins are examples of the B-19, BB-192 die marriage; the balance is from the scarcer B-11, BB-191 marriage. Most survivors of the two varieties grade from Fine to XF, with perhaps two or three dozen AU coins and less than 10 Mint State examples. Provenance. Ex: "Colonel" E.H.R. Green; Green Estate; Partnership of Eric P. Newman / B.G. Johnson d.b.a. St. Louis Stamp & Coin Co.; Eric P. Newman @ $50.00; Eric P. Newman Numismatic Education Society.
Realized $223,250.00 . Description courtesy of Heritage Auctions, ha.com. |
