19089

1809 1/2 C Normal Date. C-1, B-2, R.5 VF20 Uncertified 1809[1/2 C] Normal Date. C-1, B-2, Low R.5. D

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money Start Price:1.00 USD Estimated At:1.00 - 1,000,000.00 USD
1809 1/2 C Normal Date. C-1, B-2, R.5 VF20 Uncertified 1809[1/2 C] Normal Date. C-1, B-2, Low R.5. D
<B>1809<1/2 C> Normal Date. C-1, B-2, Low R.5. Die State 2. XF45 NGC. VF20 EAC.</B></I> Close date, 1 slightly high; High leaf left of right edge of S. <B>The discovery coin for the variety and the Manley Plate Coin for Die State 1.</B></I> This example was conservatively described as Fine in Walter Breen's <I>Half Cent Encyclopedia.</B></I> Breen listed it after the Norweb Collection coin, which he graded VF. That coin was later graded Fine in the Bowers and Merena sale catalog of the Norweb Collection (Part I, October 1987). Today, we believe that this example is sixth or seventh finest known of a total population in the vicinity of 50 coins. Several low-grade examples of this variety have been found in recent years, and it is actually possible that this die marriage may be closer to High R.4 by this time.<BR> Clearly Die State 2 in both Manley and Breen with a crack through the tops of MERICA, heavy above MERI, and extending to the left top of M and into the field right of the final A, almost to the rim. Guide lines or die scratches remain visible between S and O, and between F and A. A tiny rim clip is visible near 12 o'clock on the obverse and 6 o'clock on the reverse. The obverse has a light but clear "inner circle" from 11 o'clock to 1 o'clock and from 3 o'clock to 5 o'clock, not described by any previous authors for either Cohen-1 or Cohen-2 to the best of our knowledge, both varieties sharing this obverse die. The inner circle was most likely a guide line for punching dentils into the die. Both sides have splendid olive-brown surfaces, slightly darker near the borders and slightly lighter on the devices. Moderate surface marks are visible on both sides, but none appear unusually large or distracting. This is a splendid example of the variety, one of only a few die marriages that were not known to Gilbert some 90 years ago.<BR><I>Purchased unattributed at the 1954 ANA Bourse by Richard Picker; Lester Merkin (9/1968), lot 67; Richard Picker; Stack's (1/1987), lot 1158.</B></I> Envelope Included.