1804 Draped Bust Cent. S-266b. Rarity-5 for the Die State. VG-10 (PCGS). A solid example of this key date large cent. Glossy dark chocolate-brown surfaces that have a few nicks on each side but no roughness and are overall above average for the date and grade. Slight weakness through STATES OF as usual, the major detail elsewhere is bold. The large cud above RTY corresponds to Noyes Die State B, and while the tops of MERIC show a distinct crack on the reverse, this has yet to develop into the full cud of Die State C. Rotated about 20 degrees counterclockwise as is the rule for this date. An attractive example with superior surfaces for the issue. Sheldon-266 is the only known die marriage of the year, and while the exact mintage is unknown it is usually estimated at 96,500 pieces which is derived from the final delivery of the year made on December 31.<p> From our (Bowers & Merena) November 2007 Baltimore Auction, lot 258; Lou Alfonso.
