1809 Classic Head Half Cent. C-3. Rarity-1. MS-64 BN (PCGS). CAC. Type: Type V: Classic Head.Design: Obv: Liberty faces left, her hair bound by a fillet inscribed LIBERTY. Thirteen stars are arranged around the border, seven left and six right, with the date 1809 below. Rev: A single branch bound at the bottom by a single bowed ribbon surrounds the denomination HALF CENT. The legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA is around the border.Weight Standard: 84 grains (5.44 grams).Diameter: 23.5 mm.Die Variety: Cohen-3, Breen-4, Gilbert-4. Obv: Wide date, the digits spaced 1 8 09, with the lowest curl of Libertys hair mostly above the digit 0. This is the only use of this die. Rev: The highest leaf on the branch extends just beyond the final letter S in STATES. A light engravers arc line is evident between the top of the letters ED in UNITED, from the D to the first letter S in STATES, and through the top of the letters TATES to the border above the letter O in OF. Border denticulation is always more or less incomplete. This die was used earlier in the 1809 C-2 marriage.Cohen-3, along with C-1, 2 and 6, corresponds to the 1809 half cent listing in the <em>Guide Book</em>.Die State: Manley 1.0, the usual state. Obv: A light crack through stars 1 to 4 continues faintly toward star 5 with a second, parallel crack between stars 2 and 3. Border denticulation is bold in all areas save for at the top, above Libertys portrait. Rev: There is a faint die defect lump in the field between the words UNITED and STATES.Edge: Plain.Mintage: There is some discrepancy within the numismatic literature regarding the number of half cents struck during calendar year 1809. The <em>Guide Book</em> provides a mintage of 1,154,272 coins, but Breens total is 1,253,572 coins, the latter figure achieved in five deliveries:-March 30: 120,000 coins-June 3: 483,572 coins-June 29: 182,000 coins-September 29: 210,000 coins-December 31: 258,000Estimated Surviving Population for the Issue: 6,850 to 8,650 or more coins in all grades.Estimated Surviving Population for the Die Variety: Rarity-1: More than 2,000 coins in all grades.Strike: A well produced example, virtually all design elements exhibit sharp to full definition. Minor softness is noted for a few of the stars on the obverse, the upper border on that side with scant denticulation (as above), and the reverse denticulation weak in several areas (typical of the variety). Centering is good on the obverse, although the reverse is drawn trivially to 1 oclock with the border wider along the lower right than elsewhere.Surfaces: Warm gray-brown patina dominates the appearance but, despite the BN designation from PCGS, both sides retain appreciable faded mint orange color in the protected areas around many of the design elements. The surfaces are hard and frosty and are smooth and appealing.Commentary: The Classic Head half cent made its debut in 1809, the design attributed to John Reich. This talented German engraver had fled his homeland to escape the Napoleonic Wars, arriving in the United States in 1801. His repeated petitions to work for the Mint initially fell on deaf ears, until on April 1, 1807, his appointment to the position of assistant engraver was approved by President Thomas Jefferson. Reichs first task was a herculean one -- the redesign of all U.S. coin denominations. His now familiar Capped Bust motif was introduced in 1807 on the half dollar and half eagle, the quarter eagle following in 1808, the dime in 1809, the quarter dollar in 1815 and, finally, the half dime in 1829. The late arrival of the Capped Bust quarter and half dime was due to significant gaps in production for those two denominations. Reichs work in the copper series debuted in 1808 with the striking of the first Classic Head cents, with half cent production using this design following in 1809.Cohen-3 is one of six die marriages known for the 1809-dated half cent issue, and it is the most readily obtainable in Mint State. This premium Choice example from the ESM Collection will be perfect for another high quality cabinet. From the ESM Collection.
