1842 First Restrike (Reverse of 1856), B-2, C-SR4, High R.6, PR65 Brown PCGS. Our EAC Grade PR60. CAC. ...

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1842 B-2 Half Cent, PR65 Brown
First Restrike, Reverse of 1856
From the Dunham and Starr Collections

1842 First Restrike (Reverse of 1856), B-2, C-SR4, High R.6, PR65 Brown PCGS. Our EAC Grade PR60. CAC. Equivalents. Gilbert-2; Empire-93; Cohen-SR4; Breen-2, BW-2.
Rarity. Perhaps as many as 20 of these exist. Coleman lists 17 examples and the Bowers-Whitman Guide Book provides an estimate of 15 to 20 survivors.
Obverse 1. Christian Gobrecht's Braided Hair design of 1840 (now dated 1842) is described at lot 3129.

Reverse B. This is the First Restrike die with a recut T in CENT.
Edge. Plain.
Surfaces. Rich dark brown surfaces exhibit vibrant blue, violet, and gold toning on this impressive Gem proof. The reverse has a high wire edge from 2 o'clock to 7 o'clock.
Die State (Sholley). Obverse has scattered light roughness (probably both spalling and rust) along with patches of light polish lines at various angles similar to later state Large Berry Originals. This is the initial use of Reverse C with the 1842 obverse. The reverse has remnants of the horizontal lapping lines between HALF CENT and below CENT seen one the initial use with the 1841 obverse. The crack from dentil to the top of C in AMERICA is weak but visible. This die state is a bit earlier than middle state 1857 proofs. Likely struck mid-1857.

Appearances. Illustrated at the PCGS Set Registry record of the McGuigan Collection. Plated in the Starr catalog over lot 869 (the color plate is correct) and the May 1990 Heritage catalog.
PCGS Population (6/2022). In all grades, PCGS has certified 24 1842 Restrike half cents. Five of those are graded PR65 Brown or finer, and five more are graded PR65 Red and Brown or finer. Only five examples are identified as First Restrikes, with one each graded PR64 Brown, PR65 Brown, PR65 Red and Brown, PR66+ Brown, and PR66+ Red and Brown.
Commentary. The McGuigan Collection coin ranks sixth or seventh in the Condition Census of 17 coins in our records. Finest known is the Eliasberg coin that NGC grades PR67 Red and Brown. The Missouri Cabinet offered three pieces including one that was double struck. PCGS graded those coins PR66+ Red and Brown, PR66 Brown, and PR65 Red and Brown. Another example, PCGS graded PR63 Brown, was offered in the related Davy Collection.
McGuigan Commentary. Superb iridescent olive and bluish-brown mirror surfaces.
Provenance. Ex: William F. Dunham (B. Max Mehl, 6/1941), lot 1284; Floyd T. Starr (Stack's, 6/1984), lot 868; Colonial Coins (Dr. G.W. Vogt); Heritage (5/1990), lot 600.
Personality. B. Max Mehl sold the William Forrester Dunham collection on June 3, 1941. More than 4,000 lots ranged from half cents to double eagles, including an 1804 silver dollar and an 1822 half eagle. Dunham was a Chicago native, born on October 3, 1857. He was a graduate of the University of Illinois who operated a grocery store and later, a pharmacy. He was a member of the Chicago stock exchange. He died on October 12, 1936. Dunham is member 3 of the Chicago Coin Club Hall of Fame.
Personality. B. Max Mehl was born in Lithuania in 1884 and died in Fort Worth, Texas, on September 27, 1957. He and his wife had two daughters. Mehl was a coin dealer and auctioneer operating out of Fort Worth, and is credited with fantastic and innovative promotion of coin collecting. For example, he was the first to use radio in his advertising. He probably did more to advance the hobby during the first half of the 20th century than any other individual. He conducted 120 auctions from 1903 to 1955, including many of the most important collections sold during those years. Most of his auctions were actually mail bid sales. His Star Rare Coin Encyclopedia, published in more than 50 editions, was an innovative promotional technique.
From The James R. McGuigan Half Cent Collection.

Coin Index Numbers: (Variety PCGS# 35354, Base PCGS# 1263, Greysheet# 213374)

Weight: 5.44 grams

Metal: 100% Copper

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