Red Book variety collectors take note! We’re offering a very pretty Choice AU 1830 Medium Letters (Newcomb-6) large cent in our Spring 2023 Rarities Night Session. A desirable, conditionally rare die marriage, N-6 is the only known Medium Letters variety for the 1830 date, increasing numismatic demand from variety collectors.
All large cents struck from 1829 to 1832 have Large and Medium Letter varieties, owing to the use of different punches for the “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” legend; some variability can be observed in the size of letters in “ONE CENT,” but for the purposes of discussing collectible varieties, the size of the letters in “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” is what is important. The Red Book lists these varieties without specifying which marriages feature which letter size. Across dates, Medium Letters coins command higher prices, significantly higher prices in the case of the 1830 N-6 in AU.
As our cataloger notes, only two examples in Mint State grades are reported in major grading company censuses. About Uncirculated is the finest range of grades that appears in sales with any regularity, and attractive AU coins are real prizes for large cent variety collectors. Indeed, the example we’re offering is an exceedingly pretty AU-55 Brown, encapsulated by PCGS.
Our catalog description notes “This handsome Choice AU exhibits dominant medium brown patina to both sides with some curious underlying color of vivid pinkish-red that is more pronounced on the obverse. The surfaces are pleasingly smooth with no troublesome marks and just a trace of ancient carbon nestled around and within many of the design elements. Those same design elements are generally bold, but with mentionable softness to the top of Liberty’s portrait and the bottom of the wreath. A pair of dull marks in the left obverse field – one before Liberty’s forehead and the other before the throat – are the most useful provenance markers. Noyes Die State B/B.
Variety collectors would be hard-pressed to find a nicer-looking 1830 N-6 marriage for their variety collections. To consign your U.S. coins or paper money to our Official Auction of the Whitman Coin & Collectibles Spring 2023 Expo call 800-458-4646 or email Consign@StacksBowers.com.
