1802 Draped Bust Large Cent S-227 Obverse Die Clash

Description

Cross-referenced as Sheldon S-227 in the definitive Early American Cents classification system, this 1802 Draped Bust Large Cent displays a die clash on the obverse where elements of the reverse wreath are visible transferred in front of and behind Liberty's portrait. Die clashes on early copper coins are particularly noteworthy because the manual striking process at the early Philadelphia Mint — where each coin was individually fed between the dies and struck by a screw press — created conditions where occasional empty strikes could transfer design elements between the die faces. The wreath impressions visible both in front of and behind Liberty indicate the clash occurred with the dies in their normal rotational alignment, as the reverse wreath wraps around the coin's perimeter in a position that would project to both sides of the obverse portrait during a direct clash. The Draped Bust Large Cent was designed by Robert Scot after a portrait attributed to Gilbert Stuart, struck in pure copper at the Philadelphia Mint — the sole operating federal mint during this period. Each large cent weighs approximately 10.89 grams with a diameter of 29 mm, making it substantially larger and heavier than later cent denominations. The 1802 date had a mintage of approximately 3,435,100 pieces, and S-227 is one of many die varieties known for this year, reflecting the high rate of die failure and replacement inherent to early 19th-century coinage technology. Sheldon variety numbers serve as the primary identification system for early large cent specialists, with each number designating a specific obverse-to-reverse die combination. The clash impressions on this die marriage add an error component to a collectible already prized for its die variety characteristics within the early copper collecting community.

Attribution History

• Discovered by NumisDexDealer
• S-227