“If there are only cents, the lowest price for any portion of a vendible commodity, however inconsiderable in quantity, will be a cent; if there are half cents, it will be a half cent; and in a great number of cases exactly the same things will be sold for a half cent which if there were none would cost a cent. But a half cent is low enough for the minimum of price. Excessive minuteness would defeat its object. To enable the poorer classes to procure necessaries cheap is to enable them with more comfort to themselves to labor for less; the advantages of which need no comment.” — Alexander Hamilton, Report on the Establishment of a Mint, January 1791 With extraordinary luster and beautiful golden color that has appeared in place of the mint red that has faded, this half cent presents such impressive eye appeal that calling it, simply, “a duplicate” seems colossally unfair. Its luster is perhaps even more abundant and freewheeling than that found on the previous example, offering frosty cartwheel on both sides, apparent from every angle. Most of the surface is deep tan, but bright gold appears where the mint color mellowed last: around the date, below the bust, and outside the left side of the reverse wreath. The obverse shows no marks of consequence, or even notable planchet defects, with just a short linear defect hidden in Liberty’s brow offered as a potential identifier. The reverse is likewise immaculate, showing just a dull depression beneath H of HALF, but no scratches, nicks, or other defects. A trace of harmless buildup is found under magnified scrutiny around some of the delicate strokes and serifs of the date, reverse legends, and fraction. The strike is just as strong as on the previous specimen, showcasing just as much fine detail, even as the die state is a bit later. The delicate raised artifacts of spalling within the reverse wreath are stronger in this state, closer to Breen’s state III. Manley’s die state inquiry did not delve deeply into the evolution of these raised artifacts and cites just a single die state. An example of magnificent quality, this half cent ranks among the very finest survivors of the type. There may be as few as four individual 1793 half cents of all varieties that have received grades finer than this one at PCGS. The names in this specimen’s provenance are indicative of a coin of the highest collectible quality: Naftzger, Reale, Foxfire, and Pogue. Were it not for the recent dissolution of the Missouri Cabinet, it’s doubtful that modern collectors would have had an opportunity to acquire a 1793 half cent any finer than this. PCGS# 35009. NGC ID: 2222.
