1808/7 Overdate, B-2, C-2, High R.2, AU55 PCGS. CAC. Our EAC Grade XF45....

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1808/7 B-2, C-2 Half Cent, AU55
Early Die State

1808/7 Overdate, B-2, C-2, High R.2, AU55 PCGS. CAC. Our EAC Grade XF45. Equivalents. Proskey 1: 1-A; Ross 1-A; Gilbert-1; Empire-54; Cohen-2; Breen-2; Bowers-Whitman 2; Eckberg 1-B.

Rarity. High R.2. Survival estimates in the range of 600 to 900 coins per that Bowers-Whitman Guide Book, or 650 pieces per Eckberg, place the 1808/7 B-2 half cent in the High R.2 range of 500 to 750 coins.

Obverse 1 appears on Breen-1 and 2. This is the diagnostic 8 over 7 overdate. The date is closely spaced and the final 8 is centered between the drapery and border, with ears from the previous 7 projecting up from its top left and right curves. The serif of the 1 is closer to the hair and farther from the curl. LIBERTY is well below the border with LIB closer than other letters. The right base of the T extends past the forelock.

Reverse B appears on Breen-2 and 3. A leaf point is well below the left serif of the D in UNITED, distinguishing this reverse from the extremely rare Reverse A. There are 16 leaves and five berries in the left branch, and 19 leaves and five berries in the right branch. The numerator is vertically and horizontally centered over a short fraction bar that ends over the right edge of the 2 and the left curves of the final 0. All letters are normally formed and many are close to adjacent letters. The ED in UNITED and ES in STATES are slightly high. The HA in HALF are separated, the A, L, and F are closely spaced, nearly touching. The base of the N in CENT is slightly higher than the adjacent E. The lowest inside leaf pair on the right has a leaf covering the base and part of the upright of the T in CENT.

Edge. Plain.

Surfaces. Splashes of maroon toning on the obverse and steel toning on the reverse accent the medium chocolate-brown surfaces of this pleasing piece. Traces of frosty luster are noted in the protected area of the reverse. Scattered marks are consistent with the grade of this piece that shows lighter tan on the devices.

Die State. Manley Die State 1.0. This is the early die state with a faint crack through the tops of TY. The usual die state for the variety. Late die states with one or more rim breaks over LIBERTY are rarely encountered.

Appearances. Illustrated at the PCGS Set Registry record of the McGuigan Collection. Plated in the Stack's catalogs of the Stack and Bye collections, and in the Superior catalogs of the Suros and Lee collections.

PCGS Population (5/2022). The best examples of the 1808/7 half cents submitted to PCGS include three AU55 coins attributed as B-2, C-2, two other AU55 submissions that are unattributed, one unattributed AU58 example, and one attributed coin that is graded MS64 Brown.

Commentary. This is the usual 1808/7 overdate variety with several hundred examples known, mostly in lower circulated grades. Finest known is the Missouri Cabinet coin that PCGS grades MS64+ Brown, and the only Mint State example of this variety known to us. The present piece ranks among a dozen or so AU coins that survive today.

McGuigan Commentary. Attractive glossy medium brown surfaces with mint luster in the protected areas around the devices and lettering on the reverse. Early die state (M1.0) without any obverse breaks.

Provenance. Ex: James A. Stack (Stack's, 11/1989), lot 51; Dr. Robert J. Bye (Stack's, 5/1997), lot 368; Dr. Juan XII Suros (Superior, 2/1999), lot 4; Dr. Wallace Lee (Superior, 5/2003), lot 249.

Personality. Superior Stamp & Coin presented the collection of Dr. Juan XII Suros, billed as "The Most Complete Collection of United States Overdate Coinage Ever Assembled," in a detailed catalog dated February 8, 1999. The catalog offered 300 lots from colonials to double eagles, and included territorial and California fractional gold coins. An heir to Catalonian nobility, Dr. Suros was born at Barcelona, Spain in 1941. Following his education and Spanish military service, Dr. Suros completed his post-graduate studies at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. He was board certified in general, transplant, thoracic, and cardiovascular surgery.
From The James R. McGuigan Half Cent Collection.

Coin Index Numbers: (NGC ID# 222L, Variety PCGS# 35212, Base PCGS# 1110, Greysheet# 80900)

Weight: 5.44 grams

Metal: 100% Copper

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