1836 Classic Head Half Eagle. HM-1. Rarity-6. MS-62 (PCGS). <strong>Die Variety: </strong>HM-1. Obverse 1: The block 8 in the date, position of the digit 6 just right of center below Libertys lowest hair curl, and a single forelock curl distinguish this obverse die from the others that the Mint used to produce 1836 half eagles. Additionally, there is an extra horizontal crease in the upper hair ribbon. The HM-1 attribution represents the only appearance of the 1836 Obverse 1 in this series. Reverse F: The eagle has no tongue, and there is a large berry in the branch at the end of a prominent stem. The digit 5 in the denomination is 50% under the lowest arrow feather, and the following letter D is 85% under the branch stem and repunched. This die also appears in the 1835 HM-7 and 1836 HM-2 pairings.<p><strong>Die Emission Sequence: </strong>Preceding the shared reverse 1835 HM-7 pairing in the die emission sequence, the 1836 HM-1 was likely among the earliest half eagle varieties struck during 1836.<p><strong>Die State: </strong>The crack that nearly bisects the obverse from upper left to lower right on the present example developed early and felled this die, leading to its withdrawal from production after striking very few coins. The reverse also has a prominent bisecting crack from the lower border below the fourth leaf in the branch to the upper border outside the letter E in STATES. It traverses the left side of the eagle and shield and bisects the eagles head behind its eye.<p><strong>Estimated Surviving Population for the Variety:</strong> Just 20 coins in all grades (per Daryl J. Haynor, 2020), or 1.5% of extant 1836 Classic Head half eagles.<p><strong>Strike: </strong>Minor softness to the sweeping hair curl over Libertys ear is mentioned solely for accuracy on this otherwise smartly impressed, sharply to fully defined example.<p><strong>Surfaces: </strong>Bright golden-yellow in color with full luster in a predominantly satin to softly frosted texture. There is modest semi-reflectivity in the fields, especially on the obverse. Scattered handling marks do not include any of singular mention, an unusual and highly desirable characteristic at the assigned grade level.<p><strong>Commentary: </strong>After the famous HM-9, the HM-1 is the second rarest die pairing of the 1836 Classic Head half eagle issue. A superior Brilliant Uncirculated survivor, the Virginian Collection specimen is solidly in the Condition Census for the 1836 HM-1 attribution and is sure to see spirited bidding among advanced variety collectors of the Classic Head series. PCGS# 765225. NGC ID: 25RY. PCGS Population (HM-1 attribution only): 1; 0 finer. From the Daryl J. Haynor Virginian Collection. The plate coin for the 1836 HM-1 variety in the 2020 Haynor reference on Classic Gold coinage.
