1794 Liberty Cap Half Cent. C-4a. Rarity-3. Normal Head. Small Edge Letters. MS-64+ BN (PCGS). Lustrous and satiny surfaces exhibit a lovely blend of steel-olive and autumn-brown patina with glints of reddish-rose scattered about on the obverse. Both sides retain faint traces of faded mint red, most prominently in the protected areas around many of the peripheral letters. Sharply struck with bold clash marks from a late state of the dies. Minor softness along the upper right obverse and lower right reverse borders is noted solely for accuracy. Manley Die State 3.0.<p>Three distinctive portraits are used on the half cents of 1794. The first, cataloged as Cohen-1, was curiously named the "Gynandroid Head" by Breen. The portrait found on Cohen-2 through Cohen-6 was called the "Normal Head" by Breen, but it has been designated as the "Low Relief Head" by PCGS, a moniker that PCGS uses for the Cohen-1 as well. The "High Relief Head" covers Cohen-7, the very rare Cohen-8, and Cohen-9. Cohen-4 is the most frequently encountered die pairing of the date in numismatic circles with Bill Eckberg (2019) accounting for about 1,000 C-4a examples of the Small Edge Letters style. (The C-4b Large Edge Letters is a major rarity with only eight known.) On the other hand, this variety is a significant condition rarity with the author accounting for just 10 coins extant that grade AU or Mint State. This is one of the finest, a high Condition Census near-Gem surpassed among our offerings by only the magnificent Pogue specimen in PCGS MS-66 BN. An extraordinary example of the type, issue and die pairing that is eagerly awaiting inclusion in a world class early copper cabinet. Ex R.E. "Ted" Naftzger, Jr.; Superiors Century Collection Sale, February 1992, lot 429; Jon Hanson; Donald G. Partrick; Heritages CSNS Signature Auction of April 2021, lot 3600.
