1836 Classic Head Half Eagle. HM-4. Rarity-3+. AU-50 (PCGS). <strong>Die Variety: </strong>HM-4. Obverse 3: This die, in its only pairing for the issue, exhibits repunching to the digit 1 in the date and the letters LIB and RT in LIBERTY. There is a single forelock curl, and the digit 6 is centered under the right side of the lowest hair curl on Libertys portrait. Reverse G: Making its first appearance in this pairing, Reverse G has no tongue in the eagles mouth and no berry in the branch. The letters TE in STATES are higher than the adjacent A and S and there are two long denticles in the border outside the left side of the letter O in OF. This reverse also appears in the 1836 HM-7 attribution.<p><strong>Die Emission Sequence: </strong>This variety precedes the shared reverse 1836 HM-7 in the emission sequence.<p><strong>Die State: </strong>Perfect dies.<p><strong>Estimated Surviving Population for the Variety:</strong> 230 coins in all grades (per Daryl J. Haynor, 2020), or 15% of extant 1836 Classic Head half eagles.<p><strong>Strike: </strong>Solidly graded at the AU level, light high point rub hardly interferes with appreciation of a universally sharp to full strike.<p><strong>Surfaces: </strong> Lustrous for the grade, this frosty example also exhibits handsome color in warm olive-orange. There are no singularly mentionable blemishes, just light marks from honest circulation.<p><strong>Commentary: </strong>One of the more eagerly sought attributions of the issue among specialists, although certainly not the rarest in circulation strike format, HM-4 was used to strike all known Proof 1836 half eagles. This attractive About Uncirculated offering from the Virginian Collection would make an interesting conversation piece in a gold type collection or date set of Classic Head fives. PCGS# 8174. NGC ID: 25RY. From the Daryl J. Haynor Virginian Collection.
