1903 Canada Cent MS65 Red Brown PCGS. Old Green Holder. Tied for Finest.
The reported mintage for the 1903 cent was 4 million coins. Collectors won’t have any difficulty locating an example in MS63 or MS64, but Gems are much rarer than the production total suggests. PCGS reports 11 submissions in MS65 Red Brown and none finer in that color category. There are another 10 MS65 Red grading events (5/19). Probably some of those are resubmissions. What’s more is that top-graded examples tend to be tightly held. They are seldom made available and almost never possess the same level of eye appeal as this spectacular example.
There would be no surprise if this coin upgraded. The fields are practically pristine, with just a couple of microscopic ticks and radiant cartwheel luster. Overall coloration is vibrant copper-orange — much more Red than Brown — and attractive rainbow hues paint the borders on each side. Strike definition is absolutely pinpoint-sharp on the portrait. A couple of carbon spots are worth noting but have no effect.
Housed in an old green label Gen 2 holder circa 1989.
Note that the George Cook example in MS65 Red PCGS brought $900 USD (just shy of $1,200 CAD) in August 2019. This example has fewer marks and in my opinion superior eye appeal.
The reported mintage for the 1903 cent was 4 million coins. Collectors won’t have any difficulty locating an example in MS63 or MS64, but Gems are much rarer than the production total suggests. PCGS reports 11 submissions in MS65 Red Brown and none finer in that color category. There are another 10 MS65 Red grading events (5/19). Probably some of those are resubmissions. What’s more is that top-graded examples tend to be tightly held. They are seldom made available and almost never possess the same level of eye appeal as this spectacular example.
There would be no surprise if this coin upgraded. The fields are practically pristine, with just a couple of microscopic ticks and radiant cartwheel luster. Overall coloration is vibrant copper-orange — much more Red than Brown — and attractive rainbow hues paint the borders on each side. Strike definition is absolutely pinpoint-sharp on the portrait. A couple of carbon spots are worth noting but have no effect.
Housed in an old green label Gen 2 holder circa 1989.
Note that the George Cook example in MS65 Red PCGS brought $900 USD (just shy of $1,200 CAD) in August 2019. This example has fewer marks and in my opinion superior eye appeal.
The reported mintage for the 1903 cent was 4 million coins. Collectors won’t have any difficulty locating an example in MS63 or MS64, but Gems are much rarer than the production total suggests. PCGS reports 11 submissions in MS65 Red Brown and none finer in that color category. There are another 10 MS65 Red grading events (5/19). Probably some of those are resubmissions. What’s more is that top-graded examples tend to be tightly held. They are seldom made available and almost never possess the same level of eye appeal as this spectacular example.
There would be no surprise if this coin upgraded. The fields are practically pristine, with just a couple of microscopic ticks and radiant cartwheel luster. Overall coloration is vibrant copper-orange — much more Red than Brown — and attractive rainbow hues paint the borders on each side. Strike definition is absolutely pinpoint-sharp on the portrait. A couple of carbon spots are worth noting but have no effect.
Housed in an old green label Gen 2 holder circa 1989.
Note that the George Cook example in MS65 Red PCGS brought $900 USD (just shy of $1,200 CAD) in August 2019. This example has fewer marks and in my opinion superior eye appeal.