1803  C-1  R1  AU58.   Choice lustrous bluish steel brown with frosty lighter steel brown toning in protected areas.  No defects, just a bit of very light rub on the highest points.  Nicely struck MDS, Manley state 2.0 early.  The crack at MER has yet to form.  Reverse rotated 20 degrees CCW.  This is the plate coin used in Breen to illustrate his die state III (page 214).  A choice example.  Ex Hugh Campbell 5/78-Bill Weber, M&G Auctions/Superior 6/3/2002:2287-Chris McCawley 8/1/02-Ed Fuhrman 2/28/06-Michael Spurlock.

 M&G assessment:  AU55.  Great eye appeal with a trace of faded mint color showing through on the reverse.

 

 1803  C-2  R4  VF25.   One of the finest known.  CC#3 behind the Tettenhorst and Butcher examples.  Jim McGuigan was the underbidder to Butcher.  VF/EF sharpness with several small nicks on the obverse.  Color and surfaces are nice.  Very well struck, which is unusual for this variety.  Manley state 1.0.  This coin (which was owned by Russ Butcher at the time) finished second at the EAC half Cent Happening behind Tett’s coin.  Ex Steve Fischer-George Weingold (via Chris McCawley) 8/15/98-Russ Butcher (via Chris McCawley) 12/15/03-Ed Fuhrman 2/28/06-Michael Spurlock.

 M&G assessment:  VF35 net VF30.  Lightly cleaned and nicely retoned glossy steel brown and chocolate.  Some small nicks scattered over the obverse, none significant.

 

 1803  C-3  R2  MS60.   Frosty steel brown with delicate overtones of bluish steel and hints of very faded mint color on both sides.  The surfaces are covered with satiny mint luster.  The only mark of mention is a tiny nick in the center of the neck.  M-LDS, Manley state 4.0.  The shoulder is softly struck, as is the opposing area at the top of the wreath, due to the die failure characteristic of this later die state.  The die lines under IBE are sharp, and the reverse is rotated 10 degrees CCW.  Plated in the “Redbook” to illustrate the “2nd Reverse Style of 1803” (page 89).  Removed from a PCGS slab graded MS61BN (PCGS population for all 1803 half cents was 2 at that level with 4 higher, the best being MS64BN).  Ex M. H. Bolender 194th Auction 9/12/1958:1717-Bill Weber, M&G Auctions/Superior 6/3/2002:2289-Tony Terranova, Goldberg’s 5/27/03:1015-Tom Reynolds/Doug Bird 8/1/2003-Ed Fuhrman 2/28/06-Michael Spurlock.

 M&G assessment:  AU58.  A choice example, very close to full mint state.

 

 1803  C-4  R4  EF45.   A new addition to the condition census, from the same old-time collection of half cents as the newly discovered 1795 C-6a overstruck on a 1794 half dollar die trial.  Attractive mottled light and medium brown on the lustrous obverse, more even medium brown on the reverse.  A handsome and well struck example of this elusive rarity.  The surfaces are smooth and glossy, free of significant distractions, with just a hint of old buildup around obverse devices and some harmless verdigris around reverse design elements.  A thin scratch is hidden in Liberty’s hair behind the eye, a tiny dig inside the top of the wreath, and only minor contact marks otherwise, but fewer in the fields than might be expected.  The reverse is not upset.  Removed from an NGC slab graded AU55.  The newest CQR reports a condition census of 60-50(2)-45-40(4).  Certainly any find better than VF is a find for this die pair.  Weight 84.9 grains.  Ex Private Collector in Concord, NH in the 1950’s-ANR (Glode M. Requa Collection) 9/21/06:101-Michael Spurlock.

 M&G assessment:  EF45+.  Close to AU50.  Solidly in the middle of the condition census.

 

 1803  C-4  R4  F12.   Glossy chocolate and darker steel brown with speckles of lighter reddish brown toning on the obverse.  Smooth and free of any notable contact marks.  The reverse is upset oriented head-to-head rather than head-to-foot.  Manley state 1.0.  Ex Joseph Adamski 8/23/82-Jack Robinson, Superior 1/29/89:1909-Ken Seachman, M&G Auctions/Superior 2/22/05:1115-Michael Spurlock.

 M&G assessment:  Concur.

 

 1804  C-1  R3  EF40+.   Predominately steel brown in color with smooth, choice surfaces.  Excellent eye appeal.  The die crack from the rim, between TE in STATES, through the upper left leaf, and through the F in HALF is prominent.  A CC coin.  Nearly impossible too locate at this level.  Ex Chris McCawley-Michael George-Rick Coleman 10/27/2000-Ed Fuhrman 2/28/06-Michael Spurlock.

 M&G assessment:  Concur.  Frosty chocolate and olive brown.  Sharp, close to EF45.