1835 Classic Head Half Eagle. HM-1. Rarity-2+. MS-63 (PCGS).
Die Variety: HM-1. Obverse 1: The three obverse dies of this issue are easily distinguished by the style of the digits in the date. Obverse 1 has a block 8 with a small, straight flag on the 1. Additionally, the letter L in LIBERTY is repunched. HM-1 represents one of four uses for this die. Reverse D: The eagle has no tongue and there is no berry in the branch. The eagle's feathers closest to the uppermost pair of leaves are missing. The 1835 HM-1 pairing represents one of only two uses of Reverse D in the Classic Head half eagle series, the other the famous 1834 HM-9 Crosslet 4. Die Emission Sequence: The 1835 HM-1 shares Obverse 1 of the date with HM-2, HM-3 and HM-4, coins from all three of these pairings always display clash marks from the shield at and behind Liberty's ear. On the other hand, Daryl J. Haynor (2020) observes that approximately one third of extant HM-1 coins are from a perfect obverse die without clash marks. This confirms that HM-1 was struck first in this sequence. Insofar as it was also struck before all 1834 HM-9 Crosslet 4 coins, with which it shares Reverse D, HM-1 was almost certainly the first variety of 1835 half eagle produced. Die State: The Virginian Collection specimen represents the perfect die state of this variety with no evidence of the pronounced clashing from the reverse shield that eventually develops throughout much of Liberty's portrait in and around its center. There are also no clash marks within the vertical stripes of the shield on the reverse. Estimated Surviving Population for the Variety: 500 coins in all grades (per Daryl J. Haynor, 2020), or 48% of extant 1835 Classic Head half eagles. Strike: A crisply impressed example, even the most intricate features of the central design elements are fully rendered on this exceptionally well struck early date Classic Head $5. Localized softness affects only stars 4 through 6 on the obverse, a trivial feature that is easily overlooked. Surfaces: Semi-reflectivity in the fields mingles with mint frost, the motifs softly frosted overall. The entire coin displays luxurious orange-gold color with deep olive undertones. A bit of silvery tinting also graces surfaces that are bright, lustrous and very smooth for the assigned grade. Commentary: The HM-1 is by far the most frequently encountered die marriage among 1835 half eagles. From perhaps the first die marriage used in production of this issue, and an early die state example at that, the condition rarity Virginian Collection specimen in Choice Uncirculated was obviously preserved from among the earliest 1835 half eagles released from the Mint. It has come down to the present day with superior quality and exceptional eye appeal that confirm its Condition Census ranking in the 2020 Haynor listing, where it is the #6 coin. Premium quality in all regards, and worthy of the strongest bids.
PCGS# 765207. NGC ID: 25RV.
PCGS Population (all die marriages of the issue): 15; 16 finer (MS-64 finest).
From the Daryl J. Haynor Virginian Collection. Earlier from our (Bowers and Merena's) sale of March 2007, lot 5759. The plate coin for the 1835 HM-1 variety in the 2020 Haynor reference on Classic Gold coinage.