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1796 1/2 C No Pole, C-1, B-1, R.6, VG8 ANACS....
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Description
1796 C-1, B-1 No Pole Half Cent, VG8
Ex: Parsons, Brobston
1796 1/2 C No Pole, C-1, B-1, R.6, VG8 ANACS. Two varieties
exist for the 1796-dated half cents and they are easy to
distinguish. Cohen-1, offered here, lacks the pole to the cap and
the usually seen Cohen-2 has the pole. Different observers of the
half cent scene have varied opinions about the number of surviving
1796 half cents. Perhaps two dozen examples of this No Pole variety
are known in all grades, with estimates varying between 17 and 30
examples. About 100 examples of the Cohen-2 With Pole variety are
known.All known 1796 No Pole half cents have a diagnostic obverse die crack from the border at 9 o'clock to the hair, crossing Liberty's cheek and upper lip, to the border at 2:30. The die crack is partly obscured on low grade examples, although evidence is always visible on genuine pieces.
The grade distribution for the 1796 No Pole half cents is interesting. There are four Mint State examples known, followed by six or seven pieces that grade VG or Fine, with none between those grade levels. The present example is the best of the next five pieces that grade Good 4 to Good 6, in the opinion of the cataloger.
When Chris McCawley described this coin in his November-December 1997 Fixed Price List, he assigned a grade of VG8 and wrote that there were less than 20 confirmed examples and the present piece "should rank among the top ten specimens known." This dark steel and olive example, while lightly porous, has excellent eye appeal for the grade with no major defects on either side.
Henry Chapman graded this coin Good in 1914. In 1963, Stack's graded the coin "Fully Fine." Paramount decided on "Fine, slight planchet porosity" in 1965. Stack's revised their grade in 1976 to VG, mentioning a slightly porous planchet. The most recent auction appearance was Catherine Bullowa's June 1997 catalog that carried a grade of VG8. Collectors in the market for a 1796 No Pole half cent will wisely choose eye appeal over sharpness, and the present piece is an excellent choice.
Ex: George M. Parsons (Henry Chapman, 6/1914), lot 1945; Joseph Brobston (Stack's, 1963 FPL); Century Sale (Paramount, 4/1965), lot 61; New York ANA (Stack's, 8/1976), lot 142; C.E. Bullowa (Coinhunter, 6/1997), lot 190; Chris Victor-McCawley (12/1997); the present consignor.
From The Siesta Key Collection.
Coin Index Numbers: (NGC ID# 2226, Variety PCGS# 35095, Base PCGS# 1030, Greysheet# 80863)
Weight: 6.74 grams
Metal: 100% Copper
View all of [The Siesta Key Collection ]
Auction Info
2025 August 26 - 31 ANA US Coins Signature® Auction #1385 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
August, 2025
26th-31st
Tuesday-Sunday
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 44
Lot Tracking Activity: N/A
Page Views: 600
Buyer's Premium per Lot:
20% of the successful bid per lot.
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