half cent experts? or knowlegable?

mact

Does it matter what year in determining Cohen numbers for half cents? For 1834 it seems that the C-2 is more expensive. What is the difference?

thanks,
Matt

mact

just fishing

BillJones

Cohen numbers are arranged by year. For example in 1802 there are two varieties so it C-1 and C-2. For 1806 there are 4 varieties so it's C-1 thought 4. Unlike Sheldon Cohen numbers start over each year.

One kicker is 1804. There are 13 numbers but only 12 varieties. In the first edition of Cohen's book he listed 13 varieties. Later he decided that #4 (I think the spiked chin before it became the spiked chin) was a die state of #5, which reduced the number to 12.

Conder101

On the 1804 it was C-3 and C-5. C-3 was the early die state that became the first spiked chin after the obverse die was damaged so Cohen dropped the wrong variety number. There are only three examples of the "C-3" known today.