NNP

1802 1C S-225, B-1, R.3, MS64 Brown PCGS. Our EAC Grade MS60. Glossy chocolate-brown surfaces show faint field reflectivity, contrasting against underlying blue and rose tones on both sides. The surfaces are essentially problem-free, aside from scattered, trivial marks. Both sides of this nicely centered example display complete border dentils. Variety: The date is shifted left on this obverse, with the 1 joined to the hair and the 2 separated from the drapery. That date location is diagnostic. The obverse reappears on S-226. This early die state example shows clash marks at the lower right obverse, other clash marks on the reverse, and a delicate die crack from the final S to OF. Population Data (3/15): For all die varieties, PCGS has certified 40 Mint State 1802 large cents. This example is one of 10 MS64 Brown (one MS64+ Brown) with nine Brown pieces numerically finer. Heritage Commentary: The late C. Douglas Smith was fond of stating that a collector cannot truly appreciate a coin until he has owned it three different times. Smith owned this example four different times, so he must have really appreciated it. Provenance: Henry C. Hines; Homer K. Downing (ANA Sale, New Netherlands, 8/1952), lot 1894; C. Douglas Smith; Louis Helfenstein (Lester Merkin, 8/1964), lot 24; C. Douglas Smith; Garry Fitzgerald; C. Douglas Smith; Jerry A. Bobbe; C. Douglas Smith; Herman Halpern (Stack's, 3/1988), lot 200; Hain Family Collection (Stack's, 1/2002), lot 746; ANA Sale (Bowers and Merena, 8/2006), lot 125; Cardinal Collection (Stack's Bowers, 1/2013), lot 13014.