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Sale 78
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Lot 1134
1803. Small 3 O-104 Rarity 3. NGC graded MS-61 Star. Wonderful blue and golden toning on both sides. Great eye appeal. Pop 1; none finer at NGC for the variety
Mintage on the 1803 is listed as only 31,715 coined. However another 156,519 were struck during the year 1804, and most of these were surely dated 1803. This brings the total up to about 188,234 pieces, according to the Parsley "United States Early Half Dollar Die Varieties". This number seems reasonable as this date is fairly common in grades up to about Fine. In Extremely Fine and above, however, it is very scarce, and in Mint State any 1803 is a great rarity. "The Half Dollar denomination was very popular and circulated widely; as a consequence, choice examples of any date before 1807 are rare and some dates (1801, 1802) are unknown in full Uncirculated. In fact, all Half Dollars before about 1810 are rare in full Mint State condition, as all were absorbed by the economy and none piled up in bank vaults as happened in the 1820s."
A lovely Mint State specimen of this elusive issue, the finest of the variety cited by NGC in its census. Intact luster, beautifully toned surfaces with rich, saturated hues the enliven the beauty all the more. Extraordinarily attractive for the assigned grade. We note a minimum of surface marks and minor hairlines. The eye appeal is easily that of a grade or two finer. The eagle's head is soft, as struck and as usual, and minor flattening in the stars up above. The central obverse is marvelously defined.
Notable events occurring in 1803: Ohio became the 17th state in the Union on February 19, 1803, and the first new state which abolished slavery from the beginning of statehood; earlier, Vermont, which joined the Union in 1791, had abolished slavery under its constitution of July 1777. The Louisiana Purchase was completed at a cost of about $15 million, and added about 828,000 square miles of land to the United States. New York and Massachusetts threatened to secede from the United States in protest of Jefferson's purchase, which was made secretly.
Fort Dearborn, later known as Chicago, was established on the western shore of the lower part of Lake Michigan. Buffalo, New York was founded where the Niagara River meets Lake Erie.
Estimated Value $12,000 - 14,000.
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| Realized $27,025 |
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