1793 1/2C Cohen 3, BN MS(PCGS#35009)

The Regency Auction 27

拍卖行

Legend Rare Coin Auctions

批号

171

等级

AU53BN

价格

247,053

详细说明

From the South Texas Collection. A "GEM" of an AU! Among the first coins struck for circulation from the fledgling Philadelphia mint, the 1793 half cent is a very important and extremely popular issue, a one-year only type that is highly sought by collectors in all grades, from environmentally damaged low grade examples to GEM Mint State. Very RARE in high quality collector grades like this, even more so with such amazing eye appeal. This coin has only the lightest traces of circulation. A few stray marks can be seen on otherwise smooth, hard copper surfaces. Unlike most of the examples of this date we see either in auction or on the bourse, which come with extensive wear or environmental issues, this coin has a very pleasing medium brown coloration, with only a touch of wear. There are a few tiny marks and scratches that can be seen under a glass, and they mostly blend into the surrounding chocolate brown and olive iridescent toning. The devices are sharply impressed into the planchet, the eye appeal is superior to the vast majority of the known survivors of the date. The 35,334 half cents struck in this first year were all coined between May and July 1793. The design, featuring Liberty's head facing left with a liberty cap on top of a pole is directly related to the 1781 Libertas Americana medals struck in Paris on designs suggested by Ben Franklin. According to Walter Breen, a who's who of early mint employees are thought to have worked on the designs, including David Rittenhouse, Robert Birch, and Adam Eckfeldt. The present coin is from the Breen-3, Cohen-3 die pairing. PCGS 13, NGC 10, CAC 1. This coin has the incorrect PCGS # on the insert, listed as 1001 for a 1793 with the RB designation. No CAC-approved example has ever sold in auction in AU53. The current PCGS Price Guide value is listed at $40,000 and with its CAC-endorsement and high end look, this coin should realize in excess of that! A very desirable numismatic trophy from the infant years of the republic. Bound for a wonderful collection of half cents or early type coins. Cert. Number 07428696 PCGS # 1000