Red Star.

[jefflgarrison]

ok, so I went and looked at Alex F. website and he has one numbered 15,683 with photos. While the end of the screwpost looks similar, the rest of the back doesn't.

Either this is a new variation or a fake. Here is why.

While the mint mark is curved down like stated in Alex's table, photo comparision of the mint marks show they are very different. The star in question has the two lines of the mint marks closer together and closer to the screw post. It is also a deeper stamp than the one Alex has on file. The deeper stamp is mostlikely the result of being stamped on top of the solder.

Second, the number 2 in the star in question seems stylized and of a way different hand writing than Alex's star. Now I understand that there are 3,000 stars between the two but still, it a huge difference. We have seen MzPP stars that have very similar handwriting that span that many and more.

Finally, the screw post is different and extra solder around the base seems way too messy for such a low numbered order. Would that have been allowed?

I would like to say it was a new variation but that might be the call of others.