In 1828 the half cent bore the same design as those preceding it, but there were two varieties, one of these showing thirteen stars around the head of Liberty, the second bearing only twelve. - Edgar H. Adams, "The United States Half Cent," The Numismatist,June 1912Satiny luster overwhelms both sides, covering an obverse that has barely mellowed from full mint color and a reverse that blends violet and blue highlights into a mix of steel brown and faded red. There are a very few subtle spots beneath ENT on the reverse, and a splash of dark toning at the end of Libertys hair ribbons, but no marks or other flaws require mention. The first two stars are a little soft, but all other details are exceptionally bold. The clash marks sometimes seen on the reverse are almost entirely gone here, though faint vestiges remain at the highest berry inside the wreath and the berry right of T in CENT, marking this as Manley 3.0.Since the dawn of American copper collecting, numismatists have been amused by this varietys miscounted obverse stars, making it among the most popular of all half cent varieties. The earliest description Breen could find of this variety was in W. Elliot Woodwards Rev. Joseph M. Finotti sale of November 1862, where lot 947 is described as "1828 Twelve Stars, bright, uncirculated." The following lot was called "Another, almost as fine as proof." They brought 75 cents each. A search of the Newman Numismatic Portal reveals no fewer than 15 earlier appearances, dating back to Bangs sale of June 1859 ("1828 12 stars. Rare."). Earlier still, Montroville W. Dickeson mentioned the variety in his American Numismatical Manual, published in 1859. He counted "two types and five varieties" among the 1828 half cents he had seen, noting "one of these types has, on the obverse, twelve instead of thirteen stars - seven on the left, and five on the right hand. This number of stars undoubtedly originated in error, as nothing less than thirteen had any intelligible reference to our county, as adopted upon our coinage."This specimens technical quality and nuanced color have earned it plaudits as the likely finest known. "Considered by many to be the finest of the 12-Star variety" according to the cataloger of the Missouri Cabinet, this piece took first place for the variety at the 2008 Early American Coppers convention Half Cent Happening. Jeff Noonan recounted the competition in the pages of Penny-Wise, remarking "the top five examples of the 12 star variety were all attractive MS coins, but Tetts again was the clear winner."
