1835 Classic Head Half Eagle. HM-3. Rarity-5+. EF-40 (PCGS). <strong>Die Variety:</strong> HM-3. Obverse 1: The three obverse dies of this issue are easily distinguished by the style of the digits in the date. Obverse 1 has a block 8 with a small, straight flag on the 1. Additionally, the letter L in LIBERTY is repunched. HM-3 represents one of four uses for this die, which also appears in the HM-1, HM-2 and HM-4 attributions of the issue. Reverse E: One of the most instantly recognizable dies in the entire Classic Head half eagle series, Reverse E is the only one on which a leaf in the olive branch nearly touches the letter U in UNITED. Apart from the 1835 HM-3 this reverse appears in only one other pairing, HM-5 of the issue.<p><strong>Die Emission Sequence: </strong>Although the rarity of survivors precludes a definitive conclusion in this regard, the 1835 HM-3 likely represents the penultimate use of the issues Obverse 1 die and, as such, was struck after the 1835 HM-2 and before the 1835 HM-4 varieties.<p><strong>Die State: </strong>All known examples display clash marks in and around Libertys ear from the reverse shield that were inherited from the 1835 HM-1 and HM-2 pairings. Otherwise, extant 1835 HM-3 coins appear to have been struck from perfect dies, as here, so it is unknown what caused the early retirement of these dies from production. <p><strong>Estimated Surviving Population for the Variety:</strong> 35 coins in all grades (per Daryl J. Haynor, 2020), or 3% of extant 1835 Classic Head half eagles.<p><strong>Strike: </strong>Although lightly worn overall from time spent in active circulation, enough bold to sharp detail remains to confirm a well executed strike on both the obverse and reverse.<p><strong>Surfaces: </strong>Glints of honey-apricot peripheral color give way to dominant golden-honey. Moderately abraded, yet generally free of sizable or otherwise individually mentionable marks.<p><strong>Commentary: </strong>The HM-3 introduces a run of very scarce to rare die pairings for the 1835 half eagle issue that continues through HM-7. It is the least challenging to locate in this group, but examples are still elusive. Since Reverse E appears in only one other pairing, the even more elusive 1835 HM-5, it is the second rarest die in the entire Classic Head half eagle series. Clearly here is a significant offering for advanced gold variety collectors. PCGS# 765209. NGC ID: 25RV. PCGS Population (HM-3 attribution only): 2 in all grades (MS-62 finest). From the Daryl J. Haynor Virginian Collection. The plate coin for the 1835 HM-3 variety in the 2020 Haynor reference on Classic Gold coinage.