1793 1/2 C C-3, B-3, R.3, MS64 Brown PCGS Secure....

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1793 C-3 Half Cent, MS64 Brown
Ex: Pawling, Brobston, Charles Jay

1793 1/2 C C-3, B-3, R.3, MS64 Brown PCGS Secure. In Walter Breen's Encyclopedia of United States Half Cents, the present half cent is ranked #4 on his C-3 Condition Census. Its pedigree is readily traced by what Breen refers to as a "light Mint clip of the obverse at 2 o'clock." The same feature was described in Stack's Price List #69 as "a small semi-circular planchet clip [that] just about touches the beaded border between 2:00 and 3:00."

Unquestionably, this example ranks among the finest Cohen-3 1793 half cents. The golden-brown and olive-green surfaces are smooth and glossy. A strong lens is required to locate the few nearly microscopic ticks. The strike is precise throughout, sharp enough for every minute grain of die rust to be visible on the reverse. PCGS lists just two finer examples of C-3, an MS64+ and an MS65, both from the recently auctioned Missouri Cabinet. NGC lists a single MS64 as C-3 with none others certified as such above VF.

The first year 1793 is also important as the sole date of the Liberty Cap, Bust Left type. This position of Liberty matches that on the heralded Betts-615 Libertas Americana Medal, although the Liberty pole is shorter relative to the bust, due to the smaller diameter of the half cent. Only four 1793 die varieties exist, and all have similar rarity, although C-4 is somewhat more available than C-1. The striking sequence of the four varieties is well known since each marriage features at least one die shared by another variety. Our EAC grade MS60.
Ex: John Pawling Collection (New Netherlands, 11/1952), lot 73; Joseph Brobston Collection (Stack's, 1/1963), Fixed Price List #69; Charles Jay Collection (Stack's, 10/1967), lot 80.

Coin Index Numbers: (NGC ID# 2222, Variety PCGS# 35009, Base PCGS# 1000, Greysheet# 80837)

Weight: 6.74 grams

Metal: 100% Copper

View Certification Details from PCGS