Rosa Americana Halfpenny
1723/2 Rosa Americana Halfpenny. Martin 3.5-D.1, W-1226. Rarity-5. Uncrowned Rose. MS-62 (PCGS).
65.8 grains. An unheralded variety in the series, with a bold 1723/2 overdate visible to the naked eye, lumped together with the non-overdate halfpenny in A Guidebook of United States Coins and by PCGS, though deserving of individual listing. Even golden olive brown, with frosty surfaces and superb visual appeal. Parallel file marks are present at the obverse periphery from 6:00 to 9:00 and above ROSA AMERICANA on the reverse. Crisply struck, well detailed, and problem free. The rim is a bit crude in areas, as struck. This is far finer than Norweb’s. The Garrett and Ford specimens were pretty nice, but this piece should be a part of any finest known conversation.
PCGS# 122.
From the E Pluribus Unum Collection. Earlier Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection; our (Bowers and Merena’s) sale of the Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection, Part I, May 1996, lot 25.
Estimate: $8500