1834 Classic Head Half Eagle. HM-4. Rarity-5+. Plain 4. AU-53 (PCGS). <strong>Die Variety:</strong> HM-4. Obverse 3: Plain 4 in the date with a tall 1 and script 8. The letter E in LIBERTY is low, and star 13 is closer to the denticles than to Libertys hair. The HM-4 variety represents one of three uses of this obverse die for the 1834 Classic Head half eagle issue. Reverse B: The combination of a tongue in the eagles mouth and a tiny berry in the branch are sufficient to identify this reverse die among those used for the 1834 issue. This die was used for no other issue, although for the 1834 it appears in the HM-2, HM-4 and HM-6 pairings.<p><strong>Die Emission Sequence: </strong>Representing the second use of both Obverse 3 and Reverse B, the first 1834 HM-4 coins were struck in between those from the HM-2 and HM-6 pairings. All examples were coined during the second half of the year.<p><strong>Die State: </strong>A later impression from these dies, the offered coin exhibits a retained cud break on the reverse from the border outside the letter N in UNITED, through the bases of NITED, and extending faintly to the border between the D and the eagles right wing tip. This crack becomes more pronounced in the HM-6 pairing. The obverse exhibits faint cracks below Libertys eye and within the hair curls behind the lower fillet end, both inherited from the latest state of the HM-3 marriage.<p><strong>Estimated Surviving Population for the Variety:</strong> 35 coins in all grades (per Daryl J. Haynor, 2020), or only 1.5% of extant 1834 Classic Head half eagles.<p><strong>Strike: </strong>While light high point rub is seen throughout the design and helps to explain the AU-53 grade from PCGS, bluntness to the hair curls along Libertys brow is the result of softness of strike. This feature also affects the reverse along the junction of the left shield edge with the eagles right wing and leg, although in general that side is better struck than the obverse. Plenty of bold to sharp detail is seen elsewhere.<p><strong>Surfaces: </strong>Warm, even, orange-honey color blankets surfaces that retain much of the original satin to softly frosted luster. Faint hairlines and a touch of glossiness are noted for accuracy, but there are few sizable marks, and certainly none that are inappropriate for the assigned grade level.<p><strong>Commentary: </strong>HM-4 is by far the rarest die pairing of the 1834 Classic Head half eagle. This is perhaps curious since both the obverse and reverse dies went on strike other varieties of the date (HM-8 and HM-6, respectively), and it is not readily evident why the Mint made such brief use of the HM-4 pairing. Of this significant variety Daryl J. Haynor (2020) states: "It is currently estimated as Rarity-5+, although further research may show that this marriage is even rarer." Its elusiveness was also recognized by John W. McCloskey, who observed in 2007: "Seldom offered at auction in any condition." A significant opportunity for the astute collector of Classic Head gold coinage, we anticipate keen interest in this lot from specialists. PCGS# 765194. NGC ID: 25RR. PCGS Population (HM-4 attribution only): 4 in all grades (AU-55 finest). From the Daryl J. Haynor Virginian Collection. The plate coin for the 1834 HM-4 variety in the 2020 Haynor reference on Classic Gold coinage.
