1802/0 1/2C Reverse of 1802, BN MS(PCGS#1057)

November 2025 Showcase Auction U.S. Coins

Auktionator

Stack's Bowers

Losnummer

2010

Erhaltungsgrad

F15BN

Preis

3.840

Losbeschreibung

Manley Die State 4.0. With faint, yet warmer undertones of autumn-brown to otherwise olive-copper patina. Overall detail is suitably bold for a moderately circulated 1802/0 Cohen-2, the denomination HALF CENT and surrounding leaves in the wreath soft at central reverse due to die state. There are a few scattered marks, central reverse lightly pitted, but no singularly mentionable blemishes are seen.<p>The planchet stock for the 1802 half cents (and all of these are 1802/0 overdates) was, in today's parlance, recycled "spoiled" large cents, although there is no trace of the undertype on the present example. The mintage is believed to have been 20,266 coins, including 14,366 delivered during calendar year 1802 and 5,900 delivered in August 1803. Two die marriages are known; the C-1 is a major rarity with only 35 known (per Bill Eckberg, 2019). With 600 coins believed extant (also per Eckberg), the C-2 is scarce by numismatic standards, although the extant population is about twice what one should expect given normal rates of survival for the Draped Bust half cent series. As Bill Eckberg explains in his half cent reference:<p><em>1802/0 has been known as a rare date for many years. It is overrepresented in the surviving population because favored Philadelphia rare coin dealers were allowed to select coins to save from the coppers turned in to the Mint when the Flying Eagles were first released. As some still find this hard to believe, it seems worthwhile to quote the 19th century spin doctor, Edouard Frossard, directly on the matter:</em><p><em>"During the last fifteen years the vein of collecting coins has greatly increased in the United States. Before that time there were collectors, men of note, perseverance and genius, like Dr. M. W. Dickeson, Edward Maris, J. J. Mickley, and a few others, whose opportunities for collecting the various issues of Colonial and old mint pieces have not since been equalled [sic]. Had it not been for the spirit of research of these gentlemen at a time when old American coins were sent to the United States mint for recoinage by the thousands; many rare varieties...would have been utterly lost to us. The facilities extended those gentlemen by a liberal mint government enabled them to handle thousands of coppers, and to select from the mass such specimens as they considered worthy of preservation."</em><p>Showing evidence of moderately heavy circulation acquired over decades, this PCGS-certified Choice Fine is a definite candidate for inclusion among those 1802/0 half cents turned into the Philadelphia Mint for recoinage in the late 1850s, but rescued by one of the foremost numismatists of the day. Regardless of how it survived, any example of this issue is a prized find in today's market. This one squares up nicely and has much to offer advanced collectors.<p>In addition to the aforementioned softness at central reverse, the present example in Manley Die State 4.0 shows evidence of extensive die rust around the peripheries on both sides.