1803 1C S-262, BN MS(PCGS#36386)

1803 1C S-262, BN MS (PCGS#36386)

Spring 2026 Showcase Auction U.S. Coins

Lot Description: Breen Die State II. Despite the modest Rarity-3 rating, Sheldon-262 is a conditionally challenged variety that is difficult to find in grades above Fine, and with strong eye appeal. This is just such a condition rarity, a coin that remains boldly defined in most areas despite the presence of overall light wear and some softness to the strike on the reverse within the wreath at right. Considerable faded orange and rose-red mint color is evident in the protected areas around many of the design elements, the surfaces otherwise warmly and pleasingly toned in olive-brown. Presenting as smooth during in-hand viewing, one has to really look to find provenance markers in the form of a dull nick in the obverse field after the word LIBERTY and a few similarly trivially nicks at lower right reverse, after the denominator in the fraction. Ranking high in the Condition Census for the dies, Noyes grades this piece EAC VF30 and says it is tied for CC#7. Bland also calls it EAC VF30, but ranks it even higher as tied for CC#2 behind a single coin in EAC VF35. A coin that even the most advanced early copper enthusiast would be difficult to improve upon for the variety.