Reintro Week Part IV 1802 & 1803 Large

And her friend Mrs. 1803...

Both coins are common, R-2 about 601 to 1000 estimated. Grade I am a little more reluctant to discuss since I can't say how well the images are reproduced on my machine, The images seem to be degrading somewhat from over enlargement and I can't trust the color. But the 1802 I would say has XF-40 sharpness, is mildly porous with a few larger pits. The obv looks like it may have been cleaned lightly at some time and the reverse seems to show some evidence of having had some verdigris at some time. I would give it an EAC net grade of around F-15, maybe F-12.

The 1803 is a little better in sharpness, maybe XF-45, some might say AU-50 but I wouldn't. The obv doesn't show the cleaning evidence that the 02 does but the porousity is heavier and the pitting a little worse. The reverse shows what appears to be some brownish "rust" type areas. I would net grade it about the same as the 1802, F-12 to F-15 but I would a little more heavily toward the 15 level on this one than on the 02.

If you do pick up a copy of Penny Whimsy, avoid the 1990 edition if you can, the plates are horrible. Many people swear by the 1976 edition, but I happen to prefer the 1958 or 1965 editions. A good companion, or substitute book would be Breen's Encyclopedia of Early United States Large Cents 1793 -1814. It is a bigger heavier book that you are not going to carry around, but it have all the recent discoveries more information on die states, and large images. One the down side thare are at least four errors in the pictures where the wrong image was used for a variety.