1835 Classic Head Half Cent. C-1. Rarity-1. MS-65 RD (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 1835 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 1835-dated obverse in the half cent series, used in both the 1835 C-1 and C-2 die pairings. The digit 5 in the date is repunched. Rev: The highest leaf in the branch ends under the left side of the final letter S in STATES. The letters ST are farther apart on this die than on the 1835 C-2 variety. This reverse was also used in the 1833 C-1 and 1834 C-1 pairings.Die State: Manley 1.0. Obv: Clash marks are evident from Libertys nose to chin, at the base of the throat, and in the field between the date and bottom of the bust. Rev: Clashed twice within the wreath.Edge: Plain.Mintage: The generally accepted mintage for this issue is 398,000 coins.Estimated Surviving Population for the Issue: More than 4,000 coins in all grades.Estimated Surviving Population for the Die Variety: Rarity-1: More than 2,000 coins in all grades.Strike: The obverse is well struck, with excellent hair detail, complete star centers, full denticulation around the border, and more. The reverse meets the same standard and has excellent leaf detail, sharp lettering, and full denticulation.Surfaces: This is a beautiful coin that retains virtually full original mint red. The surfaces show none of the extensive spotting and stains typically seen on Uncirculated examples of this date (see below).Commentary: As related in <em>American Coin Treasures and Hoards</em>, by our own Q. Dave Bowers, probably in the 1920s (although facts are scarce), dealer Elmer Sears came across a hoard of 1835 half cents, later quoted by Breen, "probably a bag of 1,000 pieces, possibly more than that. They were in spotty mint red Uncirculated state." As is often the case with hoards, very little is known about the actual circumstances of discovery. Pieces were largely parceled out into the market one or two or several at a time, not by the hundreds. Today in 2020 they are widely dispersed, and offerings are typically of single examples, as here. The typical 1835 half cent is spotted or stained, as noted. The coin offered here is of exceptional quality. From the ESM Collection. Earlier from our (American Numismatic Rarities) sale of the Oliver Jung Collection, July 2004, lot 5.
