1826 1/2C, BN

1828 1/2C 12 Stars, BN

1828 1/2C 13 Stars, BN (Regular Strike)

Series: Classic Head Half Cents 1809-1835

PCGS MS66BN

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13 vs. 12 STARS

PCGS MS65BN

PCGS #:: 1147

Designer:: John Reich

Edge:: Plain

Diameter:: 23.50 millimeters

Weight:: 5.44 grams

Mintage:: 606,000

Mint:: Philadelphia

Metal:: Copper

Auction Record:: $3,220 • MS60 • 09-13-2003 • American Numismatic Rarities

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Rarity and Survival Estimates Learn More

Grades	Survival Estimate The Survival Estimate represents an average of one or more experts' opinions as to how many examples survive of a particular coin in three categories: 1) all grades, 2) 60 or better, and 3) 65 or better. These estimates are based on a variety of sources, including population reports, auction appearances, and personal knowledge. Survival estimates include coins that are raw, certified by PCGS, and certified by other grading services.	Numismatic Rarity Numismatic Rarity converts the Survival Estimate for a particular coin into a number from 1 to 10 (with decimal increments) based on the PCGS Rarity Scale. The higher the number, the more rare the coin.	Relative Rarity By Type Relative Rarity By Type ranks the rarity of this coin with all other coins of this Type. Lower numbers indicate rarer coins.	Relative Rarity By Series Relative Rarity By Series ranks the rarity of this coin with all other coins of this Series. Lower numbers indicate rarer coins.
All Grades	3,000	R-4.4	15 / 16	15 / 16
60 or Better	400	R-6.2	12 / 16 TIE	12 / 16 TIE
65 or Better	25	R-9.0	9 / 16 TIE	9 / 16 TIE

Survival Estimate
All Grades	3,000
60 or Better	400
65 or Better	25

Numismatic Rarity
All Grades	R-4.4
60 or Better	R-6.2
65 or Better	R-9.0

Relative Rarity By Type All Specs in this Type
All Grades	15 / 16
60 or Better	12 / 16 TIE
65 or Better	9 / 16 TIE

Relative Rarity By Series All Specs in this Series
All Grades	15 / 16
60 or Better	12 / 16 TIE
65 or Better	9 / 16 TIE

Condition Census What Is This?

Pos	Grade	Pedigree and History
1	PCGS MS66BN	Heritage Auctions, March 2010, Lot 44; Larry Hanks; “The D. Brent Pogue Collection, Part V,” Stack’s Bowers, March 31, 2017, Lot 5072 – $5,287.50. C-3 Glowing orange color surrounds the date. Two insignificant copper spots to the left of Liberty's nose. Another toning spot to the left of Liberty's chin. Slight weakness in the star radials from 5 to 8.
2	PCGS MS65BN	"The Menlo Park Collection," Heritage Auctions, September 1, 2008, Lot 125 - $1,093; "The Big Sky Collection," Scotsman Coin & Jewelry, July 22, 2022, Lot 1054 - $1,033. C-3. Thin curved mark from the lower right tip of star 5. Dark toning over the lower portion of Liberty. Star radials weak on the upper right side. Mulberry and green toning in the center of the reverse.
2	PCGS MS65BN	David Lawrence Rare Coins, August 22, 2021, Lot 8003 - $1,550. C-3. Toning spot at the right tip of star 2. Light contact marks are present on Liberty's cheek and jaw. Dark toning is noted on Liberty's hair and diadem at IBE. Two small horizontal marks appear on the reverse: one above HALF, and the other above the T of CENT.
2	PCGS MS65BN	"The Green Tree Collection," Goldberg Auctioneers, February 19, 2018, Lot 169 - $2,350. C-3. Light chatter on Liberty's upper cheek. Bright orange spot between F and T of HALF CENT.
2	PCGS MS65BN	David Lawrence Rare Coins, June 12, 2016, Lot 7003 - $1,225. Link inactive. Likely C-3, but not included in the C-3 Census.
2	PCGS MS65BN	Heritage Auctions, March 3, 2016, Lot 3473 - $1,057.50. C-3. Uniform brown color. Thin diagonal mark on neck. Small patch of darker toning below BE. Radials are weak but visible on stars 5-8.
2	PCGS MS65BN	Heritage Auctions, January 8, 2014, Lot 8051 - $1,292.50. C-3. Toning spot near 12 o'clock on the obvrerse. Dull mark on Liberty's upper cheek. Light serated mark running horizontal from below the corner of Liberty's mouth.
2	PCGS MS65BN	"The V.A. Everest Collection," Heritage Auctions, July 26, 2003, Lot 5121 - $1,006. C-3. Two toning spots at star 9. Path of scattered toning above HALF.Toning spots at the top of R of AMERICA.
2	PCGS MS65BN	"The AnkurJ Collection" (PCGS Set Registry). C-3. Plenty of red remains along the coin's protected surfaces. Steel-blue toning throughout. Diagonal mark on Liberty's bust.
2	PCGS MS65BN	"RUATWINCOIN" (PCGS Set Registry). C-3. Red remains in the coin's protected areas. Thin mark to the left of Liberty's mouth. Star radials absent from stars 7-9. Thin hairline running across the bottom of the reverse.
2	PCGS MS65BN	C-3. Toning spot to the left of Liberty's neck. On the reverse, a curved area of toning begins at 6 o'clock and arcs toward 10 o'clock, ending at the A of HALF.

#1 PCGS MS66BN

Heritage Auctions, March 2010, Lot 44; Larry Hanks; “The D. Brent Pogue Collection, Part V,” Stack’s Bowers, March 31, 2017, Lot 5072 – $5,287.50. C-3 Glowing orange color surrounds the date. Two insignificant copper spots to the left of Liberty's nose. Another toning spot to the left of Liberty's chin. Slight weakness in the star radials from 5 to 8.

#2 PCGS MS65BN

"The Menlo Park Collection," Heritage Auctions, September 1, 2008, Lot 125 - $1,093; "The Big Sky Collection," Scotsman Coin & Jewelry, July 22, 2022, Lot 1054 - $1,033. C-3. Thin curved mark from the lower right tip of star 5. Dark toning over the lower portion of Liberty. Star radials weak on the upper right side. Mulberry and green toning in the center of the reverse.

#2 PCGS MS65BN

David Lawrence Rare Coins, August 22, 2021, Lot 8003 - $1,550. C-3. Toning spot at the right tip of star 2. Light contact marks are present on Liberty's cheek and jaw. Dark toning is noted on Liberty's hair and diadem at IBE. Two small horizontal marks appear on the reverse: one above HALF, and the other above the T of CENT.

#2 PCGS MS65BN

"The Green Tree Collection," Goldberg Auctioneers, February 19, 2018, Lot 169 - $2,350. C-3. Light chatter on Liberty's upper cheek. Bright orange spot between F and T of HALF CENT.

#2 PCGS MS65BN

David Lawrence Rare Coins, June 12, 2016, Lot 7003 - $1,225. Link inactive. Likely C-3, but not included in the C-3 Census.

#2 PCGS MS65BN

Heritage Auctions, March 3, 2016, Lot 3473 - $1,057.50. C-3. Uniform brown color. Thin diagonal mark on neck. Small patch of darker toning below BE. Radials are weak but visible on stars 5-8.

#2 PCGS MS65BN

Heritage Auctions, January 8, 2014, Lot 8051 - $1,292.50. C-3. Toning spot near 12 o'clock on the obvrerse. Dull mark on Liberty's upper cheek. Light serated mark running horizontal from below the corner of Liberty's mouth.

#2 PCGS MS65BN

"The V.A. Everest Collection," Heritage Auctions, July 26, 2003, Lot 5121 - $1,006. C-3. Two toning spots at star 9. Path of scattered toning above HALF.Toning spots at the top of R of AMERICA.

#2 PCGS MS65BN

"The AnkurJ Collection" (PCGS Set Registry). C-3. Plenty of red remains along the coin's protected surfaces. Steel-blue toning throughout. Diagonal mark on Liberty's bust.

#2 PCGS MS65BN

"RUATWINCOIN" (PCGS Set Registry). C-3. Red remains in the coin's protected areas. Thin mark to the left of Liberty's mouth. Star radials absent from stars 7-9. Thin hairline running across the bottom of the reverse.

#2 PCGS MS65BN

C-3. Toning spot to the left of Liberty's neck. On the reverse, a curved area of toning begins at 6 o'clock and arcs toward 10 o'clock, ending at the A of HALF.

Charles Morgan:

The United States Mint did not produce half cents in 1827 but resumed their issue in 1828. The 1828 Classic Head Half Cent has a reported mintage of 606,000 pieces—a sizable total second only to the series’ inaugural 1809 issue (#1123).

For this release, Mint Chief Engraver William Kneass made slight modifications to the obverse, most notably adjusting the chin. While The Red Book denotes two primary varieties—13 Stars and 12 Stars—specialists have identified three distinct die marriages. Cohen-1 (#35258) and Cohen-3 (#35262) comprise the 13 Stars variety, while Cohen-2 (#35264) is the sole 12 Stars die marriage. None of the three are linked by shared dies in a way that allows for a definitive die sequence.

Of the three, the Cohen-1 is by far the scarcest in Mint State and is likely undervalued in the current market. Following it in rarity is the Cohen-2. By contrast, multiple examples of the Cohen-3 survive in Mint State, including many pieces with Red-Brown (RB) or Red (RD) designations. These are attributed to a hoard of approximately 1,000 pieces discovered in 1884 and sold by Benjamin Collins, a Treasury Department employee-turned-coin dealer.

It is impossible to determine exactly how many 1828 Classic Head Half Cents entered circulation. While many did, Mint records indicate that a significant number of unwanted examples were melted down in 1832.

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