1803 1/2C, BN MS(PCGS#1060)

1803 1/2C, BN MS (PCGS#1060)

Spring 2026 Showcase Auction U.S. Coins

Lot Description: Manley Die State 4.0. We note olive-copper and orange-brown patina on both sides, the former most pronounced in the protected areas around some of the design elements, where mint color was last to fade. There is an old crimson-colored spot in the lower right obverse field, but otherwise the surfaces are remarkably smooth and well composed for the assigned grade. Boldly struck, the softness to the uppermost leaves in the wreath is a function of die state. While this variety is not rare in an absolute sense, high grade Draped Bust half cents of all issues and die pairings are scarce to rare when viewed in the wider context of U.S. numismatics. Bill Eckberg (2019) observes that perhaps only "10 true UNCs survive" from the 1803 C-3 dies.