As noted in the 1997 Eliasberg catalog, the 1802 half dollar is a “generally unrecognized major rarity” in any grade approaching Mint State. F.C.C. Boyd’s 1802 half, one of the few pieces plated in the 1946 sale of his half dollar collection, was called “very fine and very rare;” it would probably grade EF or a bit better today. Mrs. Norweb owned a coin called VF-30 in 1987. The 1992 James D. Brilliant sale included an AU-50, ex the February 1982 Robison sale, called “second or third finest known” at the time. The Garrett-Pryor-Noblet coin was sold as an AU-50 (PCGS) in 1999 but has probably upgraded since. The colorful Queller coin was sold uncertified as “Brilliant Uncirculated. The Finest Seen” in 2002, then later sold at PCGS AU-58 by Heritage in 2009 for $41,687.50 and again in 2014 at $54,343.75. An NGC MS-60 was sold by Heritage in 2002; that coin remains the only entry at a Mint State grade on the NGC Census.

There are several 1802 half dollars graded AU-58 by PCGS, though the number indicated on the Population Report likely includes resubmissions. Despite those efforts, only two examples have ever been deemed Uncirculated by PCGS.

The example to the left was sold by Stack's Bowers Galleries in the D. Brent Pogue Part I Auction, where it realized $117,500.