1833 Classic Head Half Cent. C-1, the only known dies. Rarity-1. MS-65 RB (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 1833 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: This is the only 1833-dated obverse in the half cent series, here in its only use. Star 11 is lightly repunched. Rev: The highest leaf in the branch ends under the left side of the final letter S in STATES. This reverse was also used in the 1834 C-1 and 1835 C-1 pairings.Die State: Manley 3.0, described as "very rare" therein. Obv: Bold clash marks in the field encircle Libertys portrait. Rev: A double set of clash marks is evident within the wreath, a single set of clash marks from Manly Die State 1.0 still discernible outside the wreath.Edge: Plain.Mintage: The <em>Guide Book</em> provides a mintage of 103,000 coins for this issue but, based on a study of die states, Manley concludes that production of 1833-dated and 1834-dated examples overlapped, the Mint apparently switching back and forth between the obverse dies (the issues share the same reverse). The actual number of half cents struck from the 1833-dated obverse can only be surmised, the mintage probably somewhere between 120,000 and 184,000 coins.Estimated Surviving Population for the Issue: Since there is only a single die variety known for the 1833 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: Crisply impressed with razor sharp striking detail from the rims to the centers.Surfaces: This gorgeous Gem exhibits minimal iridescent toning in pale gray-brown, the surfaces retaining much of the original mint orange color. Frosty in finish and as nice as would be expected for the assigned grade. A small reverse spot at the letter D in UNITED is noted solely for accuracy.Commentary: One of the more popular type candidates in the Classic Head half cent series of 1809 to 1836, hundreds of Mint State examples of the 1833 were discovered by the Guttag Brothers of New York City during the 1930s. Finer than typically encountered in todays market, this scarce Gem represents an important bidding opportunity for the advanced collector. From the ESM Collection.
