1804 Plain 4, Stems, B-12, C-11, R.2, AU58 PCGS. CAC. Our EAC Grade AU50....

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1804 B-12, C-11 Half Cent, AU58
Early Die State

1804 Plain 4, Stems, B-12, C-11, R.2, AU58 PCGS. CAC. Our EAC Grade AU50. Equivalents. Proskey 1: 1-A; Ross 5-G; Gilbert-1; Empire-32; Cohen-11; Breen-12; Bowers-Whitman 12; Eckberg 5-F.
Rarity. R.2. The rarity ratings for this variety are changing. The Guide Book estimate of 500 to 750 coins equates to High R.2 while Eckberg's estimate of 1,200 survivors suggests a rating of High R.1. In his 2020 Handbook, Fuhrman rates this variety as R.3.

Obverse 5 appears on Breen-10 and 12. The Plain 4 without a crosslet is diagnostic for this die. That digit is close to the drapery, distant from the border, and far from the adjacent 0. The serif of the 1 is well below the hair and close to the curl. The L and I are lower than the B and E. The R and Y are higher than the T, and the R lacks its inside left base.

Reverse G appears on Breen-12. There are 16 leaves and six berries in the left branch, and 19 leaves and five berries in the right branch with stems extending both branches past the ribbon ends. The numerator is centered vertically and horizontally, and leans to the right. The long fraction bar is high above the denominator with its left end over the right curve of the 2 and its right end nearly reaching the center of the second 0. All Ts are normally formed. The N in CENT and the R in AMERICA each lack their inside left base. AME are joined and the left serif of the M is above the right serif of the first A in AMERICA.
Edge. Plain.
Surfaces. A delightful medium brown example, this piece exhibits lighter chocolate-brown on the reverse. A few trivial marks and dark toning splashes are evident on each side.
Die State. Manley Die State 1.0. A faint vertical die scratch or crack is evident at the left side of the obverse. That feature is typically not visible on examples of this variety. There is no evidence of reverse die bulging on this piece.

Appearances. Illustrated at the PCGS Set Registry record of the McGuigan Collection.
PCGS Population (5/2022). PCGS has only examined two Mint State examples of this variety, an attributed MS64 Brown and an unattributed MS61 Brown. This coin and one unattributed AU58 are next in that record.
Commentary. Although rated as a relatively common variety, the 1804 B-12, C-11 Plain 4, Stems half cent is a condition rarity. The Breen-Hanson Condition Census records two Uncirculated examples, no AU coins, and five XF pieces. The Norweb-Missouri Cabinet coin that PCGS grades MS64 Brown appears to be the finest known. Bob Grellman grades that piece AU55. We know of 14 AU coins that have appeared in auctions over the last 30 years, representing a smaller number of actual coins. The McGuigan Collection coin offered here may rank as high as second or third finest of the variety.
McGuigan Commentary. Choice lustrous surfaces with medium brown toning on the obverse and a mixture of light and medium brown toning on the reverse. Early die state (M1.0) with the central reverse and ribbon relatively well struck. Among the half dozen finest known examples of this scarce "Redbook" variety.
Provenance. Ex: Stack's Bowers (11/2013), lot 2002; Douglas Bird (4/2014).
Personality. Originally from Boston, Douglas F. Bird was born in 1944 and began collecting coins when he was nine years old. His interest in large cents led him to join Early American Coppers in 1973. As a full-time dealer specializing in early copper, Bird formed a personal collection of 179 exceptional cents that was sold in February 2020.
From The James R. McGuigan Half Cent Collection.

Coin Index Numbers: (NGC ID# 222F, Variety PCGS# 35170, Base PCGS# 1066, Greysheet# 80887)

Weight: 5.44 grams

Metal: 100% Copper

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