5c Blue, Coil (317). Pair, original gum, outstanding centering with wide margins, intense shade and impression on crisp paper

EXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL PAIR OF THE RARE 5-CENT VERTICAL COIL, SCOTT 317 -- AT VF-XF 85, THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED BY P.S.E. TO THIS COIL RARITY.

According to Johl, these first government coils were an experiment, and collectors and dealers were generally unaware of their existence. Regular sheets of 400 were printed and then perforated in only one direction. They were then cut into strips of 20. The strips were then hand pasted together to form rolls. As such, they are almost always strongly centered to one side. The futility of attempts to find sound and centered examples has resulted in very few even being considered for grading. The P.S.E. Population Report bears this out, especially for pairs. This is the highest graded pair or guide line pair in the P.S.E. Population Report.

Ex "Sacramento". With 2017 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, VF-XF 85; SMQ $17,500.00). There are no pairs or line pairs graded higher than this 85 (no line pairs are graded at all), and only one other pair has equaled this grade.

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