A generally unrecognized major rarity at this grade level. — Q. David BowersPerhaps the finest known example from these dies, the only known die marriage of this date. Gold and rose centers are framed at the distant peripheries in rich sea blue, with superb cartwheel luster encircling both obverse and reverse. An area of pale violet behind Libertys head evokes a twilight horizon, lending exceptional visual appeal to this aesthetic treat. A glass and a light find some minor hairlines, to be expected, with the most notable batch in the field off Libertys chin. The luster is unbroken on both sides, and neither obverse nor reverse shows any contact marks of consequence. We note a small group of contact points between stars 5 and 6 of the reverse star cluster for lack of something grander to identify the surfaces of this coin. The strike is more definitive than usually encountered for this date, with good centers on several stars, nice detail in hair and drapery, and full feather definition throughout the eagle. The shield and ribbon both show a full complement of details. The lowest curl, ribbon, bust truncation, and wingtip at right show some localized softness. An important specimen, sold just twice in the last 40 years: once in the famous 1975 James A. Stack sale and again in R.M. Smythes little known Nebraska V sale that included a high quality old-time collection. Today, this example stands as one of just two graded by PCGS at the Mint State level.As noted in the 1997 Eliasberg catalog, the 1802 half dollar is a generally unrecognized major rarity in any grade approaching Mint State. F.C.C. Boyds 1802 half, one of the few pieces plated in the 1946 sale of his half dollar collection, was called very fine and very rare; it would probably grade EF or a bit better today. Mrs. Norweb owned a coin called VF-30 in 1987. The 1992 James D. Brilliant sale included an AU-50, ex the February 1982 Robison sale, called second or third finest known at the time. The Garrett-Pryor-Noblet coin was sold as an AU-50 (PCGS) in 1999 but has probably upgraded since. The colorful Queller coin was sold uncertified as Brilliant Uncirculated. The Finest Seen in 2002, then later sold at PCGS AU-58 by Heritage in 2009 for $41,687.50 and again in 2014 at $54,343.75. An NGC MS-60 was sold by Heritage in 2002; that coin remains the only entry at a Mint State grade on the NGC Census.There are several 1802 half dollars graded AU-58 by PCGS, though the number indicated on the Population Report likely includes resubmissions. Despite those efforts, only two examples have ever been deemed Uncirculated by PCGS. This is the first PCGS Mint State 1802 half dollar to ever appear at public auction.
