1836 Classic Head Half Eagle. HM-3. Rarity-4. AU-55 (PCGS). <strong>Die Variety:</strong> HM-3. Obverse 2: There is a double forelock curl, and the digit 6 is centered under Libertys lowest hair curl. Repunching to the letters LIB in LIBERTY and triple punching to the R further identify this obverse, which was used in both the HM-2 and HM-3 pairings of the date. Reverse A: A tongue in the eagles mouth is sufficient to distinguish this die from the other reverses used for 1836 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>Struck from the final (re)marriage of the workhorse Reverse A, the 1836 HM-3 also follows the shared obverse 1836 HM-2 in the emission sequence.<p><strong>Die State: </strong>All 1836 HM-3 half eagles show the bisecting obverse crack from star 8 to the digit 6 in the date inherited from the 1836 HM-2 pairing. This crack is bolder and more pronounced on the present example than it is on the Virginian Collection HM-2 specimen, and it is joined by a second crack arcing from above the digit 6 to the digit 8. Representing the terminal state of Reverse A, this 1836 HM-3 exhibits not only all of the cracks noted above for the 1835 HM-8 in this collection, but evidence of die lapping that has attenuated the arrow shafts, branches and leaves, the eagles talons and many of its feathers. The right angle of the letter N in UNITED is completely filled due to chipping of the die, as is the top of the first letter S in STATES.<p><strong>Estimated Surviving Population for the Variety:</strong> 130 coins in all grades (per Daryl J. Haynor, 2020), or 9% of extant 1836 Classic Head half eagles.<p><strong>Strike: </strong>This minimally circulated survivor shows a typical strike for the issue, the detail otherwise sharp to full with just a touch of softness to the hair curls along Libertys forehead and over and behind the neck.<p><strong>Surfaces: </strong>Ample frosty to modestly semi-prooflike luster remains on both sides of this vivid medium gold example. Faint olive undertones add further appeal. Moderately abraded from a short stint in active circulation, yet free of sizable or individually mentionable blemishes.<p><strong>Commentary: </strong>This scarce die pairing is among the more challenging to locate for the 1836 half eagle. The CC#1 coin is a PCGS MS-64 (as noted by Daryl J. Haynor, 2020), although attractive About Uncirculated examples such as the Virginian Collection specimen are a more realistic option for most Classic Head gold variety enthusiasts. PCGS# 765229. NGC ID: 25RY. PCGS Population (HM-3 attribution only): 1; 1 finer (AU-58). From the Daryl J. Haynor Virginian Collection.
