1806 Draped Bust Cent. S-270, the only known dies. Rarity-1. MS-63 BN (PCGS).A lovely, strictly uncirculated example of this better date that would make a wonderful companion for the preceding 1805 cent, also from the Doug Bird collection. Deep steel-brown and olive surfaces have unbroken frosty luster across the fields and devices, and a glow of silver-blue toning outlining the design elements. The surface quality and level of preservation is superb, there are essentially no marks, spots, or flaws. Late die state with obverse bulging near the date and lower curls that is reminiscent of the die flaws on the famous 1807 "Comet" variety, which immediately follows the 1806 in Sheldons listing.While Sheldon-270 is plentiful in an absolute sense, the lack of other die pairings means that 1806 is one of the scarcer dates in the Draped Bust large cent series. Mint state examples do not appear on the market with any frequency, much less with the eye appeal and provenance of the present coin.PCGS# 36436. NGC ID: 224L.Ex S. H. & H. Chapman; Richard B. Winsor; S. H. & H. Chapmans sale of the Richard B. Winsor Collection, December 1895, lot 885; Charles Steigerwalt; Dr. Thomas Hall, September 1909; Virgil M. Brand; New Netherlands Coin Co., September 1951; C. Douglas Smith; Dr. William H. Sheldon; Dorothy I. Paschal; C. Douglas Smith; Ellen Enzler; Numismatic and Antiquarian Service Corporation of Americas December 1978 sale, lot 2651; Ellen Enzler, December 1979; R. E. Naftzger, Jr., February 1992; Eric Streiner; Gilbert Steinberg; Superiors sale of the Gilbert Steinberg Collection, September 1996, lot 1573; Doug Bird; Goldbergs sale of the Doug Bird Collection, February 2020, lot 122.
