Lot 5136
1803 B-3, BB-256 Small 3 High Rarity 6. PCGS graded AU-53. Subset of PCGS # 6900. In a new secure plus holder. Condition Census. Prooflike. A well-centered, medium-gray toned AU58 with deeper color toning at the rim on both sides. Nicely struck as well, with just a hint of weakness at the center of the scroll.
Thin top to 3, position of 3 similar to 1803 BB-251, but star 8 is more distant from Y. Close date. On the left, stars 1 and 2 are more widely separated than are any others. Obverse die used to strike 1803 BB-256 only.
The 1803 BB-256 is the second rarest die variety of the year (after BB-253, if BB-253 exists). Between 13-20 pieces are estimated to have survived. "Examples seldom surface on the market. This issue is one that the specialist would be well advised to acquire in any condition, using leisure time to upgrade if the opportunity is presented.
"In his 1881 Type-Table, J.W. Haseltine called this variety extremely rare, but did not inform the reader whether an extremely rare coin was more or less populous than an excessively rare one." Pop 1; 1 finer in 58 for the variety (PCGS # 40100) .
Estimated Value $25,000-UP.
The Dr. Hesselgesser Collection.
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| Realized $34,500 |
