Year: 1839
Type: Liberty (Matron) Head Large Cent
Variety: Booby Head (N-11)
Grade: RAW (VF 30)
Mintage: 3,128,661

The year 1839 was another transition year in terms of the Matron Head large cent.
Both the obverse and reverse dies changed signficantly, making 1839 one of the more
interesting years for variety collectors. The above example is known as the Booby
Head, and has been known by this name since at least the 1860s and possibly earlier.
The reverse is worth noting as it does not have the dash below CENT as in earlier
years. The variety pictured above, N-11, is one of the two most common Booby Head
varieties and is a common R1 coin.

The example above is a late die state as evidenced by the weakening of the devices
and dentilation as well as flowlining of the fields, more obvious on the obverse
than the reverse. It has a nice chocolate color and exhibits relatively mark-free
surfaces. The only detraction of note are two light rim bruise at 5:30 and 7 o'clock
on the reverse.

This coin was purchased from Tom Reynolds who graded it VF 30.