1804 Draped Bust Half Cent. C-13. Rarity-1. Plain 4, Stemless Wreath. MS-65 BN (PCGS). CAC.
A lovely, fully original, uncommonly well preserved example that will delight early copper enthusiasts as well as high grade type collectors. Both sides are predominantly toned in beautiful glossy antique copper, although areas of lighter golden-brown at the left obverse and upper reverse borders represent faded mint luster. Lustrous and frosty with a hard, tight texture. A faint, old pin scratch through the letters TY in LIBERTY and continuing on to the border past those letters is the only mark of note on otherwise smooth, carefully preserved surfaces. Boldly struck with many design elements sharp to full. This is an extremely popular, easily attributable variety of the 1804 Draped Bust half cent. The Plain 4 date logotype combined with the Stemless Wreath reverse immediately identifies the Cohen-13 die marriage, the only one of this Guide Book variety. This is also the most plentiful die marriage of the issue. Given the number of Mint State coins known Walter Breen ( Walter Breen's Encyclopedia of United States Half Cents: 1793-1857, 1983) believed that a hoard of Uncirculated examples may have existed at one time. If so, such pieces are now widely dispersed throughout numismatic circles, and the opportunity to acquire a coin as exceptionally well preserved and attractive as the present Gem is particularly noteworthy. Indeed, we anticipate keen interest and strong competition for this lot among advanced early copper specialists and high grade type collectors. Manley Die State 2.0 for the variety, with the peripheral lettering on both sides well struck, bold denticulation around half of the reverse border, and a vertical die scratch in the left obverse field. This is the typically encountered die state among extant 1804 C-13 half cents.
PCGS# 35176. NGC ID: 222F.
PCGS Population: 4; 0 finer in this category. CAC Stickered Population: 2; 0.

Estimate: $13900