Classic Head Half Cent

1811 Classic Head Half Cent. C-2. Rarity-3. Close Date. Fine-15 (PCGS).

Boldly and evenly toned in antique copper-brown, this is a handsome coin for the grade with equally strong aesthetic merits. A touch of softness along the left obverse and reverse borders is noted, but all major design elements are discernible, and most are quite bold. There is a concentration of light scratches at the left reverse border that we mention for accuracy, and numerous tiny marks pepper the obverse, but the in hand appearance is fairly smooth given how much circulation this coin experienced. Although federal records provide a mintage figure of 63,140 half cents for calendar year 1811, both Walter Breen and R.W. Julian believed that most of those coins were likely dated 1810. Bill Eckberg (2019), however, asserts that the reported mintage figure is correct given the number of coins extant. In any case, the 1811 has long been prized as a key date issue, and it is represented here by a pleasing mid grade survivor of the slightly more obtainable Cohen-2 Close Date die marriage. Manley Die State 2.0.

PCGS# 1135. NGC ID: 222S.

From the Collection of Silas Stanley Roberts, 1888-1966.

Estimate: 1100