1834 Classic Head Half Eagle. HM-5. Rarity-2. Plain 4. MS-64 (PCGS). CAC. <strong>Die Variety: </strong>HM-5. Obverse 4: Plain 4 in the date with a relatively flat upper serif on a short 1 and block 8. This die is most readily identifiable by bold triple punching to the digit 4. It was used in the 1834 HM-5, HM-6 and HM-7 marriages. Reverse A: A tongue in the eagles mouth and lack of a berry in the branch are enough to distinguish this die from the other reverses used for the 1834 Classic Head half eagle issue. The workhorse Reverse A struck a total of seven varieties in 11 pairings (including remarriages) among Classic Head half eagles dated 1834, 1835 and 1836.<p><strong>Die Emission Sequence: </strong>There were three distinct marriages of the 1834 HM-5 dies. Through the study of die states Daryl J. Haynor (2020) has confirmed that most examples of this attribution were actually struck in one of two remarriages after the shared reverse 1835 HM-4 or 1835 HM-6 varieties, or in other words, during calendar year 1835.<p><strong>Die State: </strong>With no evidence of a die break within the right notch of the letter N in UNITED and the only reverse crack joining the eagles left wing tip to the border the Virginian Collection specimen is from the first marriage of the 1834 HM-5 dies and was struck during calendar year 1834.<p><strong>Estimated Surviving Population for the Variety:</strong> 870 coins in all grades (per Daryl J. Haynor, 2020), or 30.5% of extant 1834 Classic Head half eagles. The HM-5 is the most readily obtainable die marriage of this issue.<p><strong>Strike: </strong>Just a touch of softness is seen at the usual central high points, but overall the design elements are crisp and bold.<p><strong>Surfaces: </strong>Deep golden-apricot with rich orange and more subtle pink and olive highlights. Exemplary mint luster rolls broadly across the satiny, minimally marked surfaces. A light planchet drift mark (as made) in the lower obverse field after the date adds character and allowed us to trace this coins appearances in earlier auctions.<p><strong>Commentary: </strong>Barely edging out HM-3 as the most plentiful die variety of this issue, the HM-5 obviously benefited from an above average rate of survival for the type. Yet on the other hand, few survivors of this attribution have been preserved with the necessary care to secure a high Mint State rating from PCGS based on todays strict grading standards. This is just such a coin, its superior technical quality matched by exceptional eye appeal. A highlight of the 1834 half eagles from the Virginian Collection, and sure to sell for a strong premium. PCGS# 765195. NGC ID: 25RR. PCGS Population (all die marriages of the Plain 4 variety): 36; 16 finer in this category (MS-66 finest).<p>CAC Population: 14; 3. From the Daryl J. Haynor Virginian Collection. Earlier from Heritages FUN Signature Sale of January 2000, lot 7708; Heritages CSNS Signature Sale of April 2001, lot 7748; our (Stacks) Orlando Sale of January 2007, lot 1281; our (Stacks) Rich Uhrich Collection sale, February 2008, lot 2155. The plate coin for the 1834 HM-5 variety in the 2020 Haynor reference on Classic Gold coinage.
