1804 1/2C C-1, BN MS(PCGS#35140)

Spring 2026 Showcase Auction U.S. Coins

Auctioneer

Stack's Bowers

Lot Number

2027

Grade

MS64BN

Price

9,600

Lot Description

Manley Die State 2.0. This is one of the finest 1804 Cohen-1 half cents known, a famous piece with an illustrious provenance. It is a lovely near-Gem Mint State example with subtle pink and powder blue undertones to dominant olive-brown and autumn-orange patina. Hard and frosty, the surfaces are remarkably smooth and mark-free even for the assigned MS-64 grade. The strike is also impressive, sharp everywhere except at upper reverse, where the advanced crack and associated die swell of Manley State 2.0 explains the softness in that area. There is some noticeable carbon build up and dark color along the left obverse border, but it is out of the way, minimally distracting during in-hand viewing, and serves to readily identify this coin for provenance purposes; it is also the only obvious impediment to this coin receiving a Gem Mint State grade from one of the leading third party certification services. A beautiful example that will be just right for another advanced half cent collection.<p>Bill Eckberg assigns this die variety to the Mint's half cent deliveries of February 24 and March 8, 1804 in his 2019 reference <em>The Half Cent, 1793-1857: The Story of America's Greatest Little Coin</em>. He accounts for 550 to 600 coins extant in all grades, but opines that only a single Mint State example is included therein. That offered here is actually one of two Uncirculated pieces recorded in the Breen-Hanson Condition Census; the other is the Alvord-Helfenstein-California specimen. This is obviously a high Condition Census coin in an 1804 C-1 half cent, its offering in this sale representing a rare and important bidding opportunity.