1810 Classic Head Half Cent. C-1, the only known dies. Rarity-1. MS-64 BN (PCGS). 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 1810 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-1, Breen-1, Gilbert-1. Obv: The only 1810-dated die in the half cent series, here in its only use. A die flaw arcs through Libertys portrait from the cheek to the ribbon at the back of the head. The digit 0 in the date is lightly repunched at the lower left. Rev: The highest leaf on the branch extends well beyond the final letter S in STATES, three denticles above the left side of the letter M in AMERICA are fused. This is the only use of this reverse.Die State: Manley reports only a single die state for this variety. Obv: The die is lightly cracked through stars 5 to 7 to the front of Libertys head. A small die flaw (clash mark?) is evident at Libertys upper lip. The fields are lightly flowlined around the stars. Rev: The end of the branch stem is missing, the outer leaf below the letter M in AMERICA is faint, light engravers lines are evident at the top of the letters ITED, ST, TES and MER in the legend.Edge: Plain.Mintage: Federal records report a mintage of 215,000 half cents for calendar year 1810, achieved in just two deliveries:-March 29: 205,000 coins-June 29: 10,000 coinsThe actual mintage from the 1810-dated obverse is almost certainly higher, additional examples included in the Mints half cent delivery for calendar year 1811.Estimated Surviving Population for the Issue: Since there is only a single die variety known for the 1810 half cent, the estimated surviving population for the issue is the same as that for the die variety.Estimated Surviving Population for the Die Variety: Rarity-1: More than 2,000 coins in all grades.Strike: Struck from nonparallel dies, typical of the issue, the right peripheral design elements on both sides are soft just inside the borders. Otherwise we note sharp to full detail throughout, the borders near-fully denticulated. The reverse is rotated approximately 45 degrees counterclockwise from normal coin alignment.Surfaces: Iridescent antique gold undertones enhance dominant glossy copper patina on the obverse. The reverse retains plenty of faded autumn-orange color with intermingled olive-gray toning. A hard, satiny and tight example with a pleasing, smooth appearance.Commentary: With so few Gems certified this lovely Choice Uncirculated example, conditionally rare in its own right, represents the finest realistically obtainable for the 1810 half cent as far as most of todays collectors are concerned. From the ESM Collection.
