can someone explain the 1/2 cents

TRADERBOBZ

i have had a urge to collect the large cents,but now i have seen the 1/2 cent and my question is on the 1804 half cent how do you tell which variety you have?
thanks guys & gals

coinguy1

Bob,

If you have a redbook you can get a general overview of major varieties for that year. If you don't, send me a PM and I'll try to help.

Placid

They have pictures of most the varietys here Link

You could buy a book on them.

"American Half Cents - The 'Little Half Sisters' (Second Edition)" by Roger S. Cohen, Jr.

"Walter Breen's Encyclopedia of United States Half Cents 1793-1857" by Walter Breen

TRADERBOBZ

thanks that does help me

Conder101

And you can always ask those of us on here who are EACers for help and advice.

Conder101 EAC #1947 since 1982

1907Quarter

boy, that spiked-chin variety really turns me on...

Conder101

Which one? There are four of them. Cohen 5 which is Scarce, but there are also three specimens known from the Cohen 5 dies that were struck before the obverse die was damaged that used to be called Cohen 3. Then there is the Cohen 6 spiked chin that is widely collected by die state because the dies come in about 20 different levels of deterioration. It is common as a variety but still hard to locate because of the number of pieces tied up in die state collections. Cohen 7 which is the second rarest of the 1804 half cents with maybe 50 or so pieces known. And finally Cohen 8 which is common.

dorkkarl

& that doesn't even begin to address die states. you might spend a year collecting JUST 1804, & not get all the recognized die states. it's and extremely worthy series, since you have little competition, & i'd encourage you all the way if you have an interest in em whatsoever.

K S

BillJones

Little competition for half cents?

That's not my experience. The pre-1800 material has always been scarce. In the old days you could get a fair number of the common to scarce varieties from 1800 to 1957 by going though dealer's stocks. Now most of the 1800-1811 material has been absorbed into collections except for some very common varieties. These include 1804 C-13, (Plain 4 stemless), 1806 C-1 (Small 6, stemless) and the 1809 C5 (9 over 6 or 9 or inverted 9). The 1806 C-4 (large 6, Stems) also shows up now and then in Mint State or close to it from a hoard although attractive circulated examples of that variety are scarcer than some collectors think. 1806-4 comes with serveral variations of rotated dies, and some pieces lined up in a way that caused the resulting coins to be poorly struck. These coins are often weak at 12 o-clock on the reverse.

The others in the 1800 to 1811 have become hard to find, at least in decent grades, especially with the widespread interest die state collecting.

The series from 1825 to 1857, excluding the Proof only issues, can still be assembled. The trouble is that those who like date runs get frustrated by the gaps where there are no coins or so few coins were made that few collectors can aspire to own them.

TRADERBOBZ

i have taken and researched all the help provided me here,and come to the conclusion this is the 1 i have1804 1/2 cent mine is a clear very fine,i was talking to a customer of mine and we got talking about coins,she brought this and a few large cents in for me to look at,(i always have coins on my desk at work to pass time) anyway she said if you can use them give me what you think you can so....for a 1804 1/2 cent and two large cents i gave her 20$ they are all very fine and i know nothing about them,but something tells me COLLECT THEM!! so i have started(again) something new LOL
thank you all for the help,im sure i will learn in time,but until then i think it is wonderfull to have this knowledge and reference at my disposal here on the boards............a great group....thank you!

Conder101

Should be pretty easy to confirm, crosslet 4 and a stemless wreath.