1808 1C S-277, BN MS62+ BN Certification #37118807, PCGS #36457

CoinFacts Details

Owner's Comments

Ex. Doug Bird 12-Star variety. A Golden Biscuit, as they say. About as light tan as they come in this series. What a find!

Expert Comments

Ron Guth

1808 S-277 can be identified easily and immediately just by looking at the front of the headband.  On this variety only, the headband is curved outward, while on the other two varieties of 1808, the front of the headband is ramrod straight.  Breen rated this variety as R-2, which is common.

All examples of S-277 show cracking on the reverse, though a perfect reverse example has been reported but remains unseen.  On the later states of the die, multiple reverse cracks appear, leading to the eventual shattering of the die.  That the die survived for so long in a cracked state is a miracle.  One by-product of the die cracking is some sinking of the die at AT of STATES and on the first obverse star, all of which are often quite weak and indistinct.

High-grade examples of S-277 are rare and elusive. The PCGS CoinFacts Condition Census includes two MS66BNs, then drops quickly to low-end Uncs.  S-277 is unknown in Red-Brown and full Red color designations.

PCGS #
36457
Designer
John Reich
Edge
Plain
Diameter
28.00 millimeters
Weight
10.89 grams
Mintage
1007000
Metal
Copper
Pop Higher
3
Pop Lower
16
Region
The United States of America

Condition Census Learn More

Pos Grade Thumbnail Pedigree and History
1 MS66BN PCGS grade MS66BN PCGS grade

Allison W. Jackman Collection - Henry Chapman 6/1918:726, $90 - Wayte Raymond - Henry C. Hines Collection - Dr. William H. Sheldon, private sale on 4/19/1972 - R.E. "Ted" Naftger, Jr., private sale on 2/3/1992 - Eric Streiner - Superior 9/1997:74, $23,100 - Superior 5/1999:1488, $19,550 - Superior 10/2000:1210, not sold
1 MS66BN PCGS grade

David Proskey - Henry C. Hines Collection - Dr. William H. Sheldon Collection, sold privately on 4/19/1972 - R.E. “Ted” Naftzger, Jr. Collection, sold privately on 2/23/1992 - Eric Streiner - Jay Parrino - Bowers & Merena 8/1996:26 - Eugene H. Gardner Collection - Heritage 5/2015:98025, $32,900
3 MS64BN PCGS grade

Ernest Henderson (Sheraton Coin Co., Boston, MA, circa late 1940s) - Dr. William H. Sheldon Collection - Dorothy Paschal Collection, via Ray Chatham - Tom Steinmetz - Douglas McHenry - Robinson S. Brown, Jr. Collection - Superior 9/1986:407, $5,280 - Bowers & Merena 1/1990:22, $8,800 - via Julian Leidman - Robert G. Schick Collection - Heritage 1/2002:5345 - Adam Mervis Collection - Heritage 1/2014:2846, $23,500
4 MS63BN PCGS grade MS63BN PCGS grade
MS66BN PCGS grade #1 MS66BN PCGS grade

Allison W. Jackman Collection - Henry Chapman 6/1918:726, $90 - Wayte Raymond - Henry C. Hines Collection - Dr. William H. Sheldon, private sale on 4/19/1972 - R.E. "Ted" Naftger, Jr., private sale on 2/3/1992 - Eric Streiner - Superior 9/1997:74, $23,100 - Superior 5/1999:1488, $19,550 - Superior 10/2000:1210, not sold
#1 MS66BN PCGS grade

David Proskey - Henry C. Hines Collection - Dr. William H. Sheldon Collection, sold privately on 4/19/1972 - R.E. “Ted” Naftzger, Jr. Collection, sold privately on 2/23/1992 - Eric Streiner - Jay Parrino - Bowers & Merena 8/1996:26 - Eugene H. Gardner Collection - Heritage 5/2015:98025, $32,900
#3 MS64BN PCGS grade

Ernest Henderson (Sheraton Coin Co., Boston, MA, circa late 1940s) - Dr. William H. Sheldon Collection - Dorothy Paschal Collection, via Ray Chatham - Tom Steinmetz - Douglas McHenry - Robinson S. Brown, Jr. Collection - Superior 9/1986:407, $5,280 - Bowers & Merena 1/1990:22, $8,800 - via Julian Leidman - Robert G. Schick Collection - Heritage 1/2002:5345 - Adam Mervis Collection - Heritage 1/2014:2846, $23,500
MS63BN PCGS grade #4 MS63BN PCGS grade