The 1799 large cent and the 1804 large cent have long been recognized as the two rarest dates in the Draped Bust series. Sheldon-266 is the only known die marriage for 1804, and while the exact mintage is unknown, it is usually estimated at 96,500 pieces, derived from the final delivery of the year made on December 31.
Featured in our Spring 2019 Baltimore Auction is a truly exceptional 1804 large cent, certified VF-20 by PCGS. The surfaces are overall smooth and appealing with just a faint microgranularity upon magnified inspection. Warm hazelnut hues adorn the high points of each side and complement the deeper tobacco-brown seen on the rest of the coin. The central elements are sharp throughout, with strong definition on Liberty’s hair. Just the faintest scattered blemishes are noted beneath a glass. An old rim bruise is apparent at 2 o’clock on the obverse though this is well worn and not distracting. The large cud above RTY corresponds to Noyes Die State B, and while the tops of MERIC show a distinct crack on the reverse, this has yet to develop into the full cud of Die State C. Rotated about 20 degrees counterclockwise as is typical. An attractive example with superior surfaces for the issue, as well as provenance to the Husak and Heard collections.
This VF-20 (PCGS) example will be offered as part of the Paradise Collection in our Official Auction of the 2019 Whitman Coin & Collectibles Spring Expo. The Paradise Collection is a specialized collection of early American copper issues with an emphasis on Middle and Late Date large cents, assembled by Newcomb variety. The sale will be available for viewing and bidding on our website www.StacksBowers.com, or you may contact our offices to secure a printed catalog. To speak with a numismatic representative, please call 800-458-4646 or email Info@StacksBowers.com. Also, download our mobile app to view and participate in our auctions via your Android or Apple device.
