1805 Large 5, Stems, B-4, C-4, R.1, MS62 Brown PCGS. CAC. Our EAC Grade AU55....

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1805 B-4, C-4 Half Cent, MS62 Brown
Large 5, Stems
Manley Plate Coin

1805 Large 5, Stems, B-4, C-4, R.1, MS62 Brown PCGS. CAC. Our EAC Grade AU55. Equivalents. Proskey 2: 2-B; Ross 2-B; Gilbert-2; Empire-45; Cohen-4; Breen-4; Bowers-Whitman 4; Eckberg 2-B.

Rarity. R.1. The Bowers-Whitman Guide Book estimates that 1,300 to 1,600 survive while Eckberg places the total known at 1,750 coins.

Obverse 3 appears on Breen-4. The diagnostic Large 5 is distant from the adjacent 0 and its upturned top joins the drapery. In practice, the shape of the 5 will identify each of the three 1805 obverse dies. The serif of the 1 is well below the hair and close to the curl. A diagonal die line cuts through the upright and the serif of the 1 on all but the earliest die states. All letters in LIBERTY are well-spaced and LIB step up at their bases. RTY step up at their tops and the T is missing its left foot. Walter Breen called the small projection under Liberty's chin a wart.

Reverse C appears on Breen-3 and 4. This die is similar to Reverse B, although there are a number of differences between the two dies. The top inside berry in the right branch is well-formed and above the F in HALF on this die, while it is deformed and joins the top right of that F on Reverse B. AME are separated on this die and joined on Reverse B. There are 16 leaves and six berries in the left branch, and 19 leaves and five berries in the right branch. The numerator is centered well above the long fraction bar that nearly covers the entire 2 and part of the final 0. The denominator is unevenly spaced with 20 wider than 00. All letters are separated from adjacent letters except for HAL in HALF that are joined at their bases.

Edge. Plain.

Surfaces. A nicely centered example that shows frosty reddish-brown and tan surfaces, this piece has darker toning on the obverse high points. A trace of rub on the highest design elements limits the grade.

Die State. Manley Die State 2.0, the later of two die states for the variety. A delicate die crack extends right from the 5 to the drapery.

Appearances. Illustrated at the PCGS Set Registry record of the McGuigan Collection. This is Ronald Manley's primary illustration in The Half Cent Die State Book 1793-1857.

PCGS Population (5/2022). PCGS has certified four examples (three attributed) as MS62 Brown and six finer submissions. Those 10 coins are the only PCGS certified Mint State examples of the 1805 Large 5, Stems half cents.

Commentary. Although this is considered a common variety, it is conditionally rare. The Missouri Cabinet coin is listed in the Breen-Hanson Condition Census as "the only true mint state specimen seen." Today, following the passage of another 40 years since that census was compiled, three or four other Mint State coins have appeared for sale. This example was graded AU50 in the 1986 Stack's offering.

McGuigan Commentary. Choice lustrous light brown. Late die state (M2.0) with a light crack from the base of the "5" in the date to the drapery, continuing through the right field to the rim at 4:00. Among the half dozen or so finest known examples of the variety.

Provenance. Ex: Lester Bernstein (Stack's, 4/1986), lot 35.

Personality. A coin collector since childhood, Lester Bernstein celebrated his 50-year ANA membership in 1985. Bernstein was born in Plainfield, New Jersey in 1907 and died in Charleston, West Virginia in 1994. The late Henry C. Hines served as his numismatic mentor. Bernstein co-founded the Charleston coin club in 1946, said to be the first coin club in West Virginia.
From The James R. McGuigan Half Cent Collection.

Coin Index Numbers: (Variety PCGS# 35188, Base PCGS# 1090, Greysheet# 80893)

Weight: 5.44 grams

Metal: 100% Copper

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Special Terms for the McGuigan Collection:
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