1802 $2 1/2 MS63 PCGS....

Description

Important 1802 BD-3 Quarter Eagle, MS63

1802 $2 1/2 MS63 PCGS. Breen-6113, BD-3, R.5. The reverse has a tiny die crack from the wing tip to the border at 2 o'clock, and a die line or scratch upward from the left corner of the shield to the scroll. Dannreuther calls it a die crack. The same reverse in an earlier die state (according to the John Reich Dime book authors, later according to John Dannreuther) was used to coin 1802 JR-1 dimes (presently unique) and in a later die state to coin 1803 JR-1 dimes. The boldly recut star 1 on the reverse, showing nine distinct points, is another immediate diagnostic for the die.
1802 BD-3 is clearly the second rarest of three known varieties. Perhaps as many as 75 examples are known, but few have survived in top grades. In fact, this piece is tied for the finest PCGS has certified, along with six others that have received the MS63 grade, and that population includes all three varieties. There are probably less than 10 Mint State examples of the BD-3 die combination.
This lovely green-gold example has considerable central weakness as almost always encountered, due to the obverse and reverse design alignment that required substantial pressure to fully bring up. The obverse field is satiny and the reverse field is reflective. Only trivial abrasions on each side limit the grade. A small planchet flake in the reverse field near the border at 7 o'clock will aid in tracking its past provenance.
Ex: Bowers and Merena (8/1999), lot 340; Heritage (10/2000), lot 7489.
From The James Mossman Collection.
See: Video Lot Description(Registry values: P6)

Coin Index Numbers: (NGC ID# 25F6, PCGS# 7650, GSID# 8251)

Metal: 91.67% Gold, 8.33% Copper
Weight: 4.37 grams
AGW: 0.1288oz
Mintage: 3,035

Note for clients in the European Union: This lot is considered by the European Union to be “investment gold”. We believe that it meets the criteria established in Article 344(1), point (2) of Council Directive 2006/112/EC and thus should be exempt from import VAT regardless of the selling price. Any questions or concerns about VAT should be addressed to your accountant or local tax authority.

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