1832 Classic Head Half Cent. C-1. Rarity-2. 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, the date 1832 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-2. Obv: This is the only 1832-dated obverse in the half cent series. The digit 8 in the date is lightly repunched at its base. This die was also used in the 1832 C-2 and C-3 pairings. Rev: The highest leaf in the branch extends minimally past the final letter S in STATES. The lower left base of an errant letter protrudes from the highest leaf within the branch, above the letters HA in HALF. This reverse was used earlier in the rare 1831 C-1 pairing.Die State: Manley reports only a single die state for this variety. Obv: Perfect. Rev: Faintly cracked from the border though the letter A in STATES and the leaf tip to the berry below the following letter T. Arcing engravers line in the field between the final letter S in STATES and the letter O in OF.Edge: Plain.Mintage: Although the <em>Guide Book</em> provides a mintage of 51,000 coins for this issue, that figure is purely speculation as no half cents were struck during calendar year 1832. During the first half of calendar year 1833 the Mint delivered 154,000 half cents, many (most?) of which were presumably from 1832-dated dies. Breen estimates a mintage of 90,000 coins from 1832-dated dies.Estimated Surviving Population for the Issue: 1,800 to 6,000 coins in all grades.Estimated Surviving Population for the Die Variety: Rarity-2: 600 to 2,000 coins in all grades.Strike: An expertly produced example with razor sharp to full detail throughout the design.Surfaces: Wisps of powder blue, champagne-pink and golden-apricot iridescence blend with dominant medium brown patina on both sides of this lovely near-Gem. Direct lighting calls forth faded mint color, predominantly on the obverse. Satin to softly frosted in texture with a smooth, inviting appearance that is suggestive of an even higher numeric grade.Commentary: A popular issue for high grade type purposes, the 1832 C-1 is a readily obtainable die marriage in Mint State by Classic Head half cent standards. This is a premium quality coin for the assigned grade that is worthy of the strongest bids. From the ESM Collection.
