1797 1 Above 1, B-1a, C-1 -- Off-Center Double Strike -- VF35 PCGS. Our EAC Grade VF20....

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1797 B-1a, C-1 Half Cent, VF35
Off-Center Double Strike

1797 1 Above 1, B-1a, C-1 -- Off-Center Double Strike -- VF35 PCGS. Our EAC Grade VF20. Equivalents. Proskey 4: 3-B; Ross 2-B; Gilbert-4; Empire-24; Cohen-1; Breen-1a; Eckberg 1-A.
Obverse 1 is unique to Breen-1. Liberty's head is well centered on this die that has a complete 1 above the final position of that digit in the date. Traces of other digits are also visible on high grade coins. LIBERTY is high above the head and closer to the border. The letters are well spaced. The short, thick pole ends far from the border.
Reverse A appears on Breen-1 and 2. The left branch has 17 leaves and five berries. The right branch has 16 leaves and three berries. Paired berries are below the E in UNITED and the first T in STATES. One outside berry on the right is located below the M in AMERICA. The fraction is closely spaced with the fraction bar nearly joined to the denominator.
Edge. Plain.
Surfaces. A splendid, glossy medium brown half cent showing pristine surfaces, this visually dramatic double strike has a high degree of aesthetic appeal. Minuscule rim nicks and trivial scratches are inconsequential.
Die State. Manley Die State 5.0. An advanced die bulge appears at the upper right obverse in addition to prominent die cracks that formed in earlier stages of the die pair.

Production. The first strike is slightly off center toward 5 o'clock with the top half of the date on the planchet. The second strike is normally centered with about 90 degrees rotation between the two strikes. Whether intentional or accidental, this piece illustrates the charm of our early copper coins.
Appearances. Illustrated in the Goldberg Auctions September 2010 catalog of the Davy Collection, Part I.
Commentary. A detailed study of half cent errors is underway with planned publication in 2022. Half cent aficionado Ed Fuhrman is continuing his Half Cent Handbook series with "Liberty Cap Varieties" and "Errors and Oddities" both planned for publication this year.
McGuigan Commentary. Choice glossy dark brown surfaces. Mint error-double struck with the first strike being 10 percent off-center toward 5:00 and the second strike centered and rotated about 90 degrees. No trace of large cent or Talbot, Allum & Lee (T.A.L.) cent (token) undertype.
Provenance. Ex: Davy I Collection (Goldberg Auctions, 9/2010), lot 64. Previously from an unrecorded seller at the 2003 Early American Coppers Convention.
Personality. A coin collector since he was five years old, New Jersey native Ed Fuhrman was born in 1968. A professional musician, Fuhrman began studying guitar in 1978 and opened a guitar school five years later. At the age of 18, he joined the heavy metal band "Hades" and toured America and Europe with the band. Discovering half cents in 1995, Ed says that he was "seduced by their charm." He is the author of The Half Cent Handbook, Draped Bust Varieties 1800-1808 that was published in 2020 and The Half Cent Handbook, Classic Head and Braided Hair Varieties 1809-1857 that was published in 2021. Fuhrman writes: "These books are designed as fully updated guides to die states, die varieties, rarity, attribution, grading, and a whole host of related topics."
From The James R. McGuigan Half Cent Collection.

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