5c Blue, Coil (317). Mint N.H. pair with plate no. 2952 at top, barest trace of hinging in selvage only, deep rich color and proof-like impression which shows every nuance of the engraving, wide margins

VERY FINE-EXTREMELY FINE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED PAIR OF THE 5-CENT VERTICAL COIL, SCOTT 317. THIS IS UNIQUE WITH THE PLATE NUMBER.

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 pasted together to form rolls.

It is unknown exactly how many of these experimental coils were produced. They were superseded less than a year later by the Washington-Franklin issue coils, the first of which were issued on December 29, 1908.

With 1970 and 2004 P.F. certificates. Scott value for Mint N.H. pair without any premium for the plate number.

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