1797 1/2C C-3a, Low Head, Plain Edge, BN MS(PCGS#35110)

Summer 2026 Global Showcase Auction U.S. Coins

Auctioneer

Stack's Bowers

Lot Number

2016

Grade

XF45BN

Price

17,080

Lot Description

Manley Die State 2.0, Fuhrman Die State 3. Superior quality for an example of this conditionally challenged Cohen number. Impressively smooth overall, the surfaces have a hard, frosty texture that is enhanced by original orange-brown patina. Blushes of steel-olive visit the lower left reverse border, the obverse with a number of faint spots over and around the portrait that are easily overlooked in most viewing situations. There are few marks or other blemishes, accuracy along compelling us to mention a small graze low on Liberty's neck and a tiny planchet void at the upper left obverse border, before the letter L in LIBERTY. Struck slightly off center, border denticulation on the obverse is thin at upper right, broad at lower left, reverse similar except that the denticulation is more or less absent from 1 to 5 o'clock. There is some softness at upper left central reverse, but most major design elements are bold.<p>All 1797 Low Head half cents were struck during the Spring of 1800 using spoiled large cents as planchet stock. The combined mintage for the 1797 C-3a, 3b and 3c attributions is at least 8,622 coins, comprised of the deliveries on April 29 (5,750 coins) and May 16 (2,872 coins), and perhaps a bit more if some of the 12,356 coins delivered on June 5 were also dated 1797.<p>Cohen-3a is the Plain Edge variety of the 1797 Low Head half cent. Despite its modest Rarity-3 rating, it is a very difficult variety to find unimpaired and in high grades; almost all known examples are moderately to heavily worn, often impaired. A single coin has been certified as Mint State by PCGS and NGC combined, the CC#1 Missouri Cabinet specimen in PCGS MS-63 BN that realized $172,500 in the Goldberg's January 2014 sale. This Choice Extremely Fine ranks among the finest known, a find for both advanced type collectors and half cent enthusiasts.