1794 Liberty Cap Half Cent. C-9. Rarity-2. High Relief Head. EF-45+ (PCGS).
This handsome piece exhibits intermingled steel-olive and deep rose highlights to dominant medium brown patina. Well struck throughout, we note fully denticulated borders framing bold to sharp motifs. The texture is hard and satiny with only minor, well scattered handling marks that are easily overlooked during in hand appreciation. Manley Die State 3.0. The accepted mintage for this issue is 81,600 coins, achieved in five deliveries during early to mid 1794: -February 22: 10,000 coins -June 4: 16,000 coins -June 26: 16,000 coins -June 27: 16,000 coins -July 8: 23,600 coins After determining the die emission sequence, and also considering the number of coins extant, William R. Eckberg and Ronald P. Manley were able to ascertain exactly which die pairings were included in each of the deliveries for this issue. As published in Eckberg's 2019 reference The Half Cent, 1793-1857: The Story of America's Greatest Little Coin, C-7, C-8 and C-9 together comprise the 23,600 coins delivered on July 8. With approximately 750 survivors in all grades, Cohen-9 is an excellent candidate to represent the High-Relief Head Guide Book variety of the 1794 half cent in a type set. It is not, however, the most common variety of the 1794 half cent as once thought, for that honor now goes to the C-4 Normal Head. The two dozen or so high grade examples of the 1794 C-9 in numismatic hands are split fairly evenly between About Uncirculated and Mint State grades. The offered coin, also finer than most, would make a lovely addition to an advanced cabinet.
PCGS# 35063. NGC ID: 2223.
From the Cardinal Collection Educational Foundation. Earlier ex D.L. Hansen Collection.