1799/8 Draped Bust Cent. S-188. Rarity-4. VG-10 (PCGS).，This is a nice, wholesome example of this key date Draped Bust cent issue. Both sides are toned in a blend of golden-tan and deep brown patina, with the obverse a bit lighter than the reverse. The strike is well centered, although there is no denticulation on the obverse from 5 to 10 oclock. All major design elements are clear; the base of the digits 17 in the date are merged with the border and the words STATES OF in the reverse legend are somewhat faint. The appearance is somewhat rough with scattered surface scale and numerous small and moderate-size marks, the most significant of which are at Libertys bust. <p>The rarest date in the entire large cent series of 1793 to 1857, the 1799 was produced in small, albeit unknown numbers. We can discount the Mints reported delivery of 904,585 cents for calendar year 1799 since most of those coins were struck from 1798-dated dies. A small percentage of that total is believed to represent the mintage for the S-188 and NC-1 overdate varieties; the S-189 perfect date coins are thought to have been struck in 1800 since most examples are on the same dark planchets as many of the 1800 varieties. The present S-188 retains considerable detail for the assigned grade, and it is sure to find its way into an advanced early copper collection.，，
