With mintage of 348,000, the 1806 cent has a reputation as a better date coin. In reality it is fairly common in the lower grades, although higher grade coins, EF-45 and better, are progressively scarce. The limited mintage was due to the failure of the coin press that was used to strike cents. That press had been used to strike the New Jersey coppers. It was the oldest press the mint was using. The press had been used by Albion Cox and Thomas Goadsby a the Rahway Mint during 1786-7 and by Goadsby in 1788. It was passed along to Matthias Ogden at Elizabeth town in 1789. Ogden’s widow sold it to the U.S. Mint in June of 1794 for $47.44. The screw failed on the press in April. The mint director decided that it was not worth the time it would take to fix it. Therefore the cent production ended for the rest of the year. There is only one 1806 cent die variety. PCGS graded this 1806 cent MS-62, Brown. The piece has subdued mint luster, but it is a very sharp and attractive example. PCGS has graded three 1806 cents in MS-62 and six pieces higher which makes this a scarce coin in the higher grades.
