Ron Guth:
The 1844 Half Dime has a reasonably low mintage compared to some of the other dates in the series, but there are so many survivors that this date is considered common. This is also true for Mint State 1844 Half Dimes, where the extant population is higher than most other dates in the 1840s and, better yet, the population is shifted toward the high end. This means that the PCGS Condition Census contains all MS67 coins -- a very unusual circumstance for such an early date Half Dime, and indicative of a hoard finding.
The 1844 Half Dime is usually well struck, perhaps a trifle weak on the denticles, and there are some colorful, high-grade, toned examples to tempt collectors.