Should be very interesting to watch this one:)
1861 Confederate States of America Cent. Original. Breen-8005.
So, who's going to pick this one up:HMMMMM;
A link to the auction and additional reading
http://www.stacks.com/lotdetail.aspx?lsid=AN00000726&asid=AN00000281&lrid=AN00157252A little snippet of info:
Description
1861 Confederate States of America Cent. Original. Breen-8005. Genuine (ANACS). Choice Proof.
Copper-nickel. 63.2 grains. Quite a few years ago Q. David Bowers visited with John J. Ford, Jr., at Ford's home in Rockville Centre, New York. In the afternoon the conversation turned to the copper-nickel cents struck by Robert Lovett, Jr., in 1861 for the Confederate States of America. These had been a passion for Ford ever since the 1940s. In the intervening years he attempted to buy every example he was able to find, either privately or at auction, although he missed a few.
Fast forward to the early 2000s when the Ford Collection was consigned to Stack's. Dave saw this as an opportunity to obtain one of the Ford coins. He reviewed the several examples to be sold, and eyed what he considered to be the highlight of the group. This came up for sale as the finer of Ford's two remaining coins, in May 2005 as Lot 4477, described by Michael Hodder as:
"Original 1861 Confederate States of America Cent. Copper-Nickel. Choice Brilliant Proof. 63.2 gns. 19.0 mm. Lovely, pale gold in color like a nice federal Copper Nickel cent. Proof flash can be seen in the protected areas on the obverse and across most of the reverse surface. Sharply struck everywhere, with full detail showing on Miss Southern Liberty on the front and the wreath and cotton bale on the back. Minor planchet roughness as made on the obverse at upper left. Circular toning in the center of the obverse, some light hairlines. Very rare: only 12 to 15 are known. Ex F.C.C. Boyd Estate."
Dave Bowers commissioned an agent to bid on his behalf. After spirited competition the coin was his! The price was $110,000 plus 15% buyer's fee plus 5% to his agent, for a total of $132,000. Now in 2009, Dave is deaccessioning some prize items from his collection, over a period of time, with this cent being a highlight.
By any accounting, this original Confederate States of America cent is one of the greatest treasures in American numismatics.
