1803 Draped Bust Cent. S-258, B-17. Rarity-1. Small Date, Large Fraction.

Premium Mint State 1803 Sheldon-258 Cent 1803 Draped Bust Cent. S-258, B-17. Rarity-1. Small Date, Large Fraction. MS-62 BN (PCGS). CAC. CMQ. Breen Die State II. A superior example of the type, issue and die pairing. We note an abundance of mint color on both sides, nicely faded down to autumn-orange, with deeper steel-brown toning on the obverse over and behind much of Liberty's portrait. The strike is well centered and, while a bit soft throughout the wreath on the reverse, offers bold to sharp definition elsewhere. A bit of light carbon on Liberty's neck, within the hair curls behind the cheek and at the digit 0 in the date is noted, but the in-hand appearance is exceptionally smooth and well composed for the assigned grade. The mintage of 3,131,691 coins that the Guide Book provides for the 1803 Draped Bust cent corresponds to the Mint's deliveries for this denomination during calendar year 1803 - 2,471,353 coins - plus all but 96,500 of the 756,838 cents (660,338) delivered during calendar year 1804. While many 1803-dated cents were certainly struck during calendar year 1804 (and possibly as late as 1806), the mintage of this issue remains an estimate since we do not know exactly how many 1804-dated cents were struck, or even when all of those coins were produced (they may also have been delivered during calendar year 1805, possibly even 1806). Sheldon-258 is one of the varieties of the 1803-dated cent issue that Breen believes may have been delivered during calendar year 1804. A popular die pairing for type purposes, not only are circulated examples plentiful, but enough Mint State coins are extant to suggest that a small hoard existed at one time. If so, the coins have long since been widely dispersed, for market appearances are usually few and far between, certainly not frequent enough to meet demand from high grade type collectors and advanced early copper enthusiasts. CAC Stickered Population: 5; 10. PCGS# 1485. NGC ID: 224G. Click here for certification details from PCGS. Image with the PCGS TrueView logo is obtained from and is subject to a license agreement with Collectors Universe, Inc. and its divisions PCGS and PSA. Click here to see Coins in Motion.

Estimate:$1

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