1805 1/2C C-4, Large 5, Stems, BN MS(PCGS#35188)

1805 1/2C C-4, Large 5, Stems, BN MS (PCGS#35188)

Spring 2026 Showcase Auction U.S. Coins

Lot Description: 86.8 grains. Manley Die State 2.0. This beautiful Choice AU example exhibits warm, original, medium copper-brown patina to frosty surfaces. Traces of luster persist, and the detail remains sharp in all areas save for at the end of Liberty's bust, which is a tad soft. A few minor planchet flakes are seen at the lower right obverse, most notably below the digit 5 in the date, but these are easily overlooked during in-hand viewing; there are no troublesome handling marks. Virtually flawless apart from the aforementioned planchet flakes; one would be hard pressed to find a nicer Draped Bust half cent of any date or variety at the certified AU-58 level.<p>This is the second most common die pairing of the 1805 half cent, and the only one that corresponds to the Large 5, Stems to Wreath <em>Guide Book</em> variety. The mintage comprised the majority of coins that the Mint delivered on June 29, 1805, the last half cents produced until the 1805 C-1 variety was delivered in December of that year. Despite a generous surviving population of 1,750 or so coins (per Bill Eckberg, 2019), the 1805 C-4 is conditionally challenged with only about a dozen AUs known and a mere two coins in true Mint State. Solidly in the Condition Census, the Partrick-Widmer Family specimen offered represents a significant find for advanced early copper variety collectors.