1802 Draped Bust Cent. S-236. Rarity-1. MS-64 BN (PCGS). CAC. An exciting offering for advanced early copper variety enthusiasts, this is one of the finest, most visually appealing survivors from the Sheldon-236 die pairing obtainable. It is a lustrous, satin to softly frosted example with dominant autumn-brown color. Splashes of deeper steel-brown are evident on the high points, and there is some faded mint red color in the protected areas on the obverse. There are no marks of note to the exceptionally smooth surfaces, although a few small blushes of steely-olive color are evident at the right borders, mostly on the reverse. Breen Die State V, early, with two die cracks on the upper part of the reverse and clash marks on both sides.<p>Whereas cent production in calendar year 1801 was delayed until August due to a lack of copper, calendar year 1802 opened with nearly 3 million planchets on hand at the Mint, and the first delivery of the year arrived on January 16. Coinage for this denomination remained strong through December, the unusually generous (for the era) mintage of 3,435,100 coins for calendar year 1802 perhaps reflective of a temporary strengthening of the economy.<p>The offered coin from the S-236 dies is one of the most famous 1802 Draped Bust cents. Called "Finest seen and possibly FK (Finest Known)" by C. Douglas Smith, who also wrote of this coin, "If ever there was a golden biscuit, THIS IS IT!!!" EAC grade of MS60+ and CC#2 in the Bland census, Noyes says AU55 and tied for CC#2, while Bob Grellman assigns an EAC grade of MS60+ in his cataloging of the Ralls Collection sale in January 2014. A gorgeous coin bound for another world class large cent cabinet. From Stacks, privately; Herman Halpern, February 14, 1987; C. Douglas Smith, March 30, 1992; Eric Streiner; Superiors Clark E. Adams and Duncan MacMillan Collections sale, October 1992, lot 120; Anthony Terranova; Dr. Philip W. Ralls; Ira & Larry Goldbergs sale of the Dr. Philip W. Ralls Collection, January 2014 Pre-Long Beach Auction, lot 632.
