1809 1/2C C-2, BN MS(PCGS#35221)

1809 1/2C C-2, BN MS (PCGS#35221)

Spring 2026 Showcase Auction U.S. Coins

Lot Description: Manley Die State 2.0, early, with the obverse crack through stars 10 to 13 now extending back to star 9. Boldly defined overall with light wear largely confined to the high points, both sides retain plenty of sharper detail in the recesses of the major design elements. Warmly and evenly toned copper-brown surfaces are free of sizable or singularly distracting marks. The mintage for this issue is a generous 1,154,572 pieces, all of which were delivered during calendar year 1809. Popular as the first half cent of the Classic Head design type, the 1809 is also known for a rarity in the C-1 die pairing and interesting Guide Book varieties in the C-4 Small o Inside 0 and C-5 9/Inverted 9. Cohen-2 is a scarcer attribution for the date, for which Bill Eckberg reports in his 2019 half cent reference:Estimated survivors: 570. Delivered with the previous variety [C-1] on May 16. Perhaps 10 are known in UNC and AU, but the variety is very rare above VF.Aside from the Widmer Family specimen offered here, we have handled only one other EF in recent decades, the PCGS EF-45 Robison Collection coin that reappeared in our August 2021 ANA Auction.