CC#2 1803 Large 3 Draped Bust Dollar
1803 Draped Bust Silver Dollar. BB-255, B-6. Rarity-2. Large 3. MS-64+ (NGC).
Remarkable quality and breathtaking eye appeal in an early silver dollar irrespective of date or die pairing. The surfaces are largely brilliant with only the lightest iridescent golden-russet and powder blue toning engaging the borders. The virtual lack of toning allows full appreciation of an intense satin to semi-reflective finish that shines forth powerfully at all viewing angles. The dies were apparently polished shortly before this coin was struck, and only in isolated areas on the reverse are faint traces of mint frost discernible under magnification. Sharply defined throughout, indeed, virtually full by the standards of the type. Both sides are exceptionally well preserved and remain free of troublesome blemishes. BB Die State II. 1803 is the final date in the United States Mint's early dollar series. Although a trickle of dollars emerged from the Mint in 1804, these were all from earlier-dated dies, probably 1801, 1802 and/or 1803. On the 1803 Large 3 obverse used for the BB-255 variety, offered here, the 3 is repunched low and this is diagnostic to identify the die. It is the most frequently encountered attribution for the issue, similar in status to BB-241 for the 1802-dated issue. "Notwithstanding all of this, in Mint State [BB-255] is not the most often seen 1803 variety. That distinction does to BB-252, for reasons not understood today." (Q. David Bowers, The Encyclopedia of United States Silver Dollars: 1794-1804, 2013.) The offered coin is ranked CC#2 for the variety per the listing in the Winter 2023 revision to Stephen J. Herrman's Auction Prices Realized for Early Silver Dollars: 1794-1803, in which it is graded MS-63 by NGC. It is a supremely attractive coin that would do equally well in an advanced type set or early dollar cabinet.
PCGS# 6901. NGC ID: 24XD.
NGC Census (all die marriages of the issue): 1; 1 finer (MS-65+). PCGS reports no grading events for the issue in MS-64, and a single one in MS-65 at the finest.
From Heritage's Long Beach Signature Auction of January 2015, lot 3172.