1835 Classic Head Half Eagle. HM-8. Rarity-3+. MS-64 (PCGS). CAC. <strong>Die Variety:</strong> HM-8. 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 also used in the 1835 HM-7 pairing. Reverse A: A tongue in the eagles mouth is sufficient to distinguish this die from the other reverses used for the 1835 Classic Head half eagles. 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>Undoubtedly one of the final half eagle varieties struck during that year, the 1835 HM-8 represents the penultimate of 11 (re)marriages using Reverse A.<p><strong>Die State: </strong>The obverse die is crisp and unbroken, while the reverse shows delicate cracks joining the bases of the letters ITED in UNITED, and the letters of the word STATES, though the light crack that affects the first S is not connected to the one through TATES. The eagles left wing tip is cracked boldly into the adjacent denticles. Light strike doubling shadows the letters of the reverse legend, seen to the top and left of UNITED, the left of STATES, the base of OF, and the right of AMERICA. The top of the letter N in UNITED is broken and filled in, the latest stage of deterioration in this area seen on coins struck from Reverse A.<p><strong>Estimated Surviving Population for the Variety:</strong> 200 coins in all grades (per Daryl J. Haynor, 2020), or 18.5% of extant 1835 Classic Head half eagles.<p><strong>Strike: </strong>Exceptional, with only the most trivial softness at the upper left corner of the reverse shield.<p><strong>Surfaces: </strong>Frosty and boldly lustrous, the surfaces display even dark yellow tones that yield steely highlights when light accentuates the luster. Only minor contact marks are seen, including a little cluster above the date and two parallel nicks low on Libertys cheek. Faint hairlines are present, fewer on the reverse than obverse, and a tiny cut impacts the reverse rim above the second letter S in STATES. A field depression below the letter F in OF resulted from matter adhering to the die at the moment of striking. These trivial features, both as made and post-production, are hardly discernible in hand and are mentioned here as useful identifiers in maintaining the provenance of this significant piece.<p><strong>Commentary: </strong>Along with HM-1 and HM-2, the HM-3 is one of only three readily obtainable die marriages of the 1835 half eagle. The issue as a whole is scarce in Mint State, more so than the first year 1834. To date, Gems are unknown to the major third party certification services. This premium quality MS-64 is tied for finest certified at PCGS and ranked CC#1 for the issue in Daryl J. Haynors 2020 listing, where the authors grade is given as "MS64+/A-." It is a phenomenal near-Gem of exceptional beauty that also has a provenance that includes two of the most significant Classic Head gold coin cabinets formed in recent decades. Sure to impress even the most discerning bidders. PCGS# 765224. NGC ID: 25RV. PCGS Population (all die marriages of the issue): 13; 0 finer. The corresponding NGC Census is 12/0.<p>CAC Population: 3; 0. From the Daryl J. Haynor Virginian Collection. Earlier from Heritages CSNS Signature Sale of April 2001, lot 7749; Heritages New York Signature Sale of July 2002, lot 9148, via Eric Streiner; D. Brent Pogue Collection; our (in conjunction with Sothebys) sale of the D. Brent Pogue Collection, Part IV, May 2016, lot 4051. The plate coin for the 1835 HM-8 variety in the 2020 Haynor reference on Classic Gold coinage.
