1806 Small 6, Stems, B-2, C-3, High R.5, VG10 PCGS. CAC. Our EAC Grade VG8....

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Description

1806 B-2, C-3 Half Cent, VG10
Small 6, Stems Rarity
Condition Census

1806 Small 6, Stems, B-2, C-3, High R.5, VG10 PCGS. CAC. Our EAC Grade VG8. Equivalents. Empire-49; Cohen-3; Breen-2; Bowers-Whitman 2; Eckberg 2-A.
Rarity. High R.5. The Bowers-Whitman Guide Book population figure is 20 to 30 coins while Eckberg suggests a higher estimate of 45 examples known.

Obverse 2 appears on Breen-2 and 3. The date is closely spaced and the point of the Small 6 is close to the drapery while its bottom is far above the border. The serif of the 1 is close to the hair and closer to the curl. LIBERTY is closely spaced, particularly the I and B. The R is missing its inside left base.

Reverse A appears on Breen-1 and 2. There are 16 leaves and six berries in the left branch, and 19 leaves and five berries in the right branch. The Ts are normally formed. The numerator is centered vertically and horizontally and leans slightly right. The denominator is widely spaced below a moderate-length fraction bar. The AME and RI are joined at their bases. This is the only Draped Bust reverse die that have R and I joined at their bases although several others are extremely close. The E in CENT is higher than adjacent letters.
Edge. Plain.
Surfaces. This is an exceptional example showing minimal, grade-consistent marks on the dark steel-brown surfaces. A pleasing two-tone appearance showing light brown devices that have faint greenish tendencies.
Die State. Manley Die State 2.0. Cracked through the tops of IC to the rim over A, but struck before a rim break appeared above that crack.

Appearances. Illustrated at the PCGS Set Registry record of the McGuigan Collection.
PCGS Population (5/2022). PCGS has attributed six examples of the 1806 B-2, C-3 half cent in all grades including two in Good 4, this coin and two others in VG8, and one submission as VF35. It is doubtful that many of the unattributed 1806 Small 6, Stems half cents that PCGS has certified are from this die pair.
Commentary. This elusive variety was unknown to Gilbert in his 1916 half cent reference. Joseph Brobston purchased the discovery coin from the B. Max Mehl sale of the Neil collection where it was described as "not in Gilbert." All known examples, and there are not many, are in lower grades. The finest known example appeared in the Missouri Cabinet where PCGS graded the coin VF35 and Bob Grellman assigned a net grade of Fine 15. We have recent auction records of 17 appearances including duplication of a few examples. A late state example of this die marriage appears below in the die state offering of the McGuigan Collection.
McGuigan Commentary. Glossy steel-brown toning. Intermediate die state (M2.0) with a crack through "ICA" of AMERICA to the border. One of the half dozen or so finest known specimens of this rare variety.
Provenance. Ex: Merrill Stuut (Ft. Lauderdale Coins, 12/1975).
Personality. Merrill P. Stuut was born in February 1938 and conducted numismatic business in Michigan and in Florida.
From The James R. McGuigan Half Cent Collection.

Coin Index Numbers: (NGC ID# 222J, Variety PCGS# 35197, Base PCGS# 1096, Greysheet# 80896)

Metal: 100% Copper
Weight: 5.44 grams
Weight: 0.19oz
Mintage: 814,464

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