PCGS AU53
PCGS AU53
- PCGS #:
- 4268
- Designer:
- Robert Scot
- Edge:
- Reeded
- Diameter:
- 16.50 millimeters
- Weight:
- 1.35 grams
- Mintage:
- 3,060
- Mint:
- Philadelphia
- Metal:
- 89.2% Silver, 10.8% Copper
- Auction Record:
- $456,000 • AU53 • 08-28-2022 • Heritage Auctions
Major Varieties
- 1802 H10C
Rarity and Survival Estimates Learn More
| Survival Estimate | |
|---|---|
| All Grades | 35 |
| 60 or Better | |
| 65 or Better | |
| Numismatic Rarity | |
|---|---|
| All Grades | R-8.8 |
| 60 or Better | R-10.1 |
| 65 or Better | R-10.1 |
| Relative Rarity By Type All Specs in this Type | |
|---|---|
| All Grades | 2 / 7 |
| 60 or Better | 1 / 7 |
| 65 or Better | 1 / 7 |
| Relative Rarity By Series All Specs in this Series | |
|---|---|
| All Grades | 2 / 12 |
| 60 or Better | 1 / 12 |
| 65 or Better | 1 / 12 |
Condition Census What Is This?
#1 PCGS AU55
Harold P. Newlin; Garrett Family; Stellar Collection; Jay Parrino; “The St. Jude Collection" (PCGS Set Registry). Latte toning throughout. Darker toning in the crevices of the devices |
| #1 PCGS AU55 |
|
#3 PCGS AU53
Virginia collector; John Feigenbaum and Jim McGuigan, by sale, June 1999, to Jonathan Kern; As PCGS XF45 #04320640. “The Steve Glenn Collection,” Heritage Auctions, April 2006, Lot 1868 - $299,000; “The Joseph C. Thomas Collection,” Heritage Auctions, April 2009, Lot 2186 - $195,500; Eugene H. Gardner; “The Eugene H. Gardner Collection, Part I,” Heritage Auctions, June 2014, Lot 30180 – $352,500; D. Brent Pogue Collection; “The D. Brent Pogue Collection, Part I,” Stack’s Bowers / Sotheby’s, May 2015, Lot 1013 – $305,500; Stack’s Bowers, March 26, 2024, Lot 4064 – $324,000. As PCGS AU53 #53980448. Blue, gold, and purple toning. Thin scratch across the cheek. Vertical mark from Star 1 to the field to the right of star 4. Rim scratch at 11 o’clock. |
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#3 PCGS AU53
U.S. Coin Company, April 1917, Lot 215; “The Empire Collection,” Stack’s, November 1957, Lot 628; “The Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection,” Bowers and Merena, May 1996, Lot 903; Heritage Auctions, January 5, 2017, Lot 5569 – $329,000; “The Bender Family Collection, Part I” Heritage Auctions, August 24, 2022, Lot 3723 – $456,000. Planchet void beneath Liberty’s chin. Blue and rose toning throughout. |
#5 PCGS XF45
Dell Loy Hansen; "The D.L. Hansen Collections" (PCGS Set Registry). Russet-brown toning. Vertical from middle lock to chin. Thin horizontal line from hair to bust, terminating above the date, just to the right of the 2. Near vertical abrasiaons in the glory below ES. |
#5 PCGS XF45
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#5 Est. XF45
George Hale, 1945; Dr. Angus Black, 1970; Reed Hawn, 1973; "The Newport Collection," 1975; The Bibler Collection; unnamed collection; Norman Pullen; Larry Hanks; East Coast Collection; Vintage Auctions, August 1989, Lot 103; "The Bob R. Simpson Collection." |
|
#5 Est XF45
J.P. Leavitt, 1863; Scott Redlich Collection, 1878, Lot 542a; W. Elliot Woodward, October 1884, Lot 1022 - $360; "The James B. Wilson Collection," Thomas Elder, October 1908, Lot 784 - $715; "The H.O. Granberg Collection"; "The William Cutler Atwater Collection," B. Max Mehl, May 1946, Lot 1126 - $840; unknown collectors in the 1940s; "The James A. Stack, Sr. Collection," Stack's, November 1989, Lot 368; As NGC AU50 #1801405-001. Heritage Auctions, January 1998, Lot 6631 - $84,000; Heritage Auctions, August 2000, Lot 6815 - Passed; Heritage Auctions, June 2001, Lot 7960 -$64,400; Heritage Auctions, August 2011, Lot 7065 - $212,750. Goldberg Auctioneers, January 2015, Lot 1145. As NGC AU50 #3319293-002. Stack's Bowers, November 14, 2019, Lot 3045 - $192,000. Dark slate blue toning. Diagonal mark across drapery and breast that terminates in an irregular-shaped gouge. Small horizontal mark at the upper neck. Diagonal mark above arrows. |
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#5 Est XF45
As Extremely Fine. “The Anderson-DuPont Collection, Part II,” November 1954, Lot 1357; “The R.L. Miles, Jr. Collection, Part II," April 1969, Lot 398; “The Pacific Collection,” Robert L. Hughes Enterprises, February 1978. As NGC AU50 #1650296-008. Stack’s Bowers, August 17, 2021, Lot 4048 – $228,000. Silvery-copper toning. There is a small gouge to the upper right of star one and two small scratches to the right of Liberty’s mouth. |
| #10 PCGS XF40 |
1802 Draped Bust Half Dime
Logan-McCloskey-1. PCGS #4268 (Base) and #38607 (LM-1) | Rarity 5.
The 1802 Draped Bust Half Dime stands as the second-rarest issue in the entire half dime denomination, surpassed only by the unique 1870-S Liberty Seated Half Dime (#4397). While often called the "key" to the series, it is more accurately described as a "stopper"—the formidable barrier that prevents even the most elite collections from reaching completion. Recognized as a premier rarity since the mid-19th century, this date was conspicuously absent from many of the great "Golden Age" cabinets. Although the Red Book cites a mintage of 3,060, the surviving population hints at a significantly lower actual production.
Die Characteristics (LM-1)
A single die pair was responsible for the entire mintage. Collectors can identify the LM-1 marriage through several diagnostic markers:
- Obverse Weakness: Strikes typically show heavy fading on the left side, flattening the denticles from 7 to 10 o’clock and rendering the left-side stars nearly featureless.
- The "Curl" Marker: A fine die line extends leftward from Liberty’s top hair curl, while the tip of the "1" in the date nearly—but not quite—touches that same curl.
- The Date: The "8" is the most prominent and boldest digit; the "0" is nearly perfectly circular; and the "2" is distinctly canted to the left, leaning toward the bust truncation.
- Reverse Diagnostics: Cloud detail is perpetually weak, as is the "RIBU" in PLURIBUS. This specific reverse die enjoyed a long life, having been utilized for the 1801 (LM-1, LM-2) and 1803 (LM-1, LM-2) issues.
Uknown in Mint State
With an estimated survival of only 25 to 30 specimens, the 1802 is essentially non-existent in high grades; no Mint State (MS) examples have ever been recorded. While PCGS has certified a small number of About Uncirculated (AU) and Extremely Fine (XF) pieces, the vast majority of known examples are heavily circulated.
Vintage Market Snippets
The coin’s legendary status was cemented early in the American numismatic consciousness. An example appeared in an Edward Cogan sale as early as 1859, and William A. Lillendahl’s specimen fetched $340 in 1863—an astronomical price for a half dime at the time. Its allure was famously captured by Augustus G. Heaton in his 1894 poem, "The Convention of the Thirteen Silver Barons," where he affectionately dubbed the 1802 his "better half." Proving its status as the ultimate acquisition, Stack’s Bowers noted that this issue was the final coin added to the world-renowned D. Brent Pogue Family Collection, serving as the crowning achievement of an uncompromising multi-decade pursuit.
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