1826 Classic Head Half Cent. C-1. Rarity-1. MS-65 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 1826 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: A bold patchwork of crisscrossing die lines is present in the field immediately after the date. Star 7 is repunched, star 6 less so, and a tiny die dot nearly touches the lower left corner of the digit 2 in the date. This is the only use of this obverse die. Rev: The highest leaf on the branch extends just beyond the final letter S in STATES. A bold remnant of the top of an errant E is present in the field between the top of the primary letters ED in UNITED, and there is a weaker remnant from the serif of an extra S in the field between the words UNITED and STATES. A faint die line from the left ribbon end nearly touches the top of the letter U in UNITED. The only use of this reverse die.Die State: Manley 4.0, "scarce." Obv: A crack from the border passes through the two lowest points of star 1 and terminates at the point of Libertys bust. A branch from this crack extends through stars 2 and 3. The crisscrossing die lines after the date remain bold, but additional die lines above Libertys head from earlier states are barely evident. Rev: Close inspection with a loupe reveals faint clash marks within the wreath, especially to the right of the letters F in HALF and T in CENT.Edge: Plain.Mintage: The reported mintage for half cents during calendar year 1826 is 234,000 coins, although this total includes some coins struck from 1825-dated dies. Conversely, additional 1826-dated examples were probably struck in 1828. There were no half cents struck from 1827-dated dies.Estimated Surviving Population for the Issue: 2,200 to 2,450 or more coins in all grades.Estimated Surviving Population for the Die Variety: Rarity-1: More than 2,000 coins in all grades.Strike: This is a smartly impressed example with bold to sharp definition throughout the design.Surfaces: Beautiful Gem surfaces are satin to softly frosted in texture with a hard, smooth appearance. Both sides display golden-brown with intermingled pinkish-apricot undertones that enhance the strong eye appeal. There are no blemishes of note, as befits the assigned grade.Commentary: Cohen-1 accounts for the majority of 1826 half cents and, with numerous Mint State examples known, this variety is equally popular for date and type purposes. Few are as carefully preserved and visually appealing as the ESM Collection specimen offered here. It will be, a find for the discerning collector. From the ESM Collection.
