1835 Classic Head Half Eagle. HM-7. Rarity-6. EF-45 (PCGS). <strong>Die Variety:</strong> HM-7. Obverse 3: The three obverse dies of this issue are easily distinguished by the style of the digits in the date. Obverse 3 has a script 8 with a long, curved flag on the 1. It was used in both the 1835 HM-7 and HM-8 pairings. Reverse F: The only reverse die of the issue with a berry in the branch, and readily attributable, as such. This die also appears in the 1836 HM-1 and 1836 HM-2 pairings.<p><strong>Die Emission Sequence: </strong>Struck from a later state of the shared Reverse F, the 1835 HM-7 follows the 1836 HM-1 in the emission sequence and, as such, is a product of the latter calendar year.<p><strong>Die State: </strong>The characteristic bisecting reverse crack of the 1835 HM-7 attribution is readily evident on the present example. It originates at the lower border below the fourth leaf from the top of the branch and continues through the left side of the eagle and shield, bisects the eagles head, and terminates at the upper border outside the letter E in STATES. <p><strong>Estimated Surviving Population for the Variety:</strong> Just 20 coins in all grades (per Daryl J. Haynor, 2020), or 1.7% of extant 1835 Classic Head half eagles.<p><strong>Strike: </strong>Overall light wear is commensurate with the Choice EF grade returned by PCGS, but the only area of likely softness of strike is confined to the central obverse above Libertys ear, where the hair curls are quite blunt. The reverse is sharply struck throughout with good central detail for the assigned grade.<p><strong>Surfaces: </strong>Handsome honey-orange color enhances surfaces that reveal ample remnants of mint luster under a light. Moderately abraded on both sides, although the only individually mentionable mark is a graze in the lower obverse field after the date.<p><strong>Commentary: </strong>An important rarity among 1835 half eagle die pairings, the HM-7 is equally as elusive as HM-4 and HM-6. Examples are seldom encountered in any grade, and this appreciably lustrous Choice EF from the Virginian Collection represents a significant find for the specialist. PCGS# 765223. NGC ID: 25RV. PCGS Population (HM-7 attribution only): 2 in all grades (both EF-45). From the Daryl J. Haynor Virginian Collection. The plate coin for the 1835 HM-7 variety in the 2020 Haynor reference on Classic Gold coinage.
