1828 1/2C 12 Stars Cohen 2, RB (Regular Strike)
Series: Classic Head Half Cents 1809-1835
PCGS MS65RB
13 vs. 12 STARS
PCGS MS64RB
- PCGS #:
- 35265
- Designer:
- John Reich
- Edge:
- Plain
- Diameter:
- 23.50 millimeters
- Weight:
- 5.44 grams
- Mintage:
- 606,000
- Mint:
- Philadelphia
- Metal:
- Copper
- Auction Record:
- $50,600 • MS65 • 01-26-2014 • Goldberg Auctioneers
Condition Census What Is This?
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#1 PCGS MS65RB
Jon Hanson; R. Tettenhorst Collection (Bernard Edison), by sale, November 1977; Eric P. Newman and R. Tettenhorst. As PCGS MS65RB. “The Missouri Cabinet Collection of U.S. Half Cents,” Goldberg Auctioneers, January 2014, Lot 114 - $50,600. As PCGS MS65RB #32707979. “The D. Brent Pogue Collection, Part V,” Stack’s Bowers, March 31, 2017, Lot 5071 – $39,950. A splash of dark toning appears at the tips of Liberty's ribbons. While the obverse retains much of its original red (though darkened and mellowed somewhat), the reverse exhibits vibrant violet and blue toning, complemented by orange-red highlights along the periphery. |
#2 PCGS MS64RB
"The Red Headed Copper Collection," Heritage Auctions, August 19, 2018, Lot 5032 - $37,200; "The HalfCenter Collection" (PCGS Set Registry). A toning spot is visible at the 8 of the date, with another situated under the left tip of Liberty's bust. The obverse retains significantly more original Red than the reverse. On the reverse, patches of bluish-steel toning are present along the left side of HALF CENT and across the first few letters of UNITED. |
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#2 PCGS MS64RB
Anthony J. Terranova, November 9, 1990; R. Tettenhorst (Bernard Edison); Eric P. Newman and R. Tettenhorst; "The Missouri Cabinet Collection of U.S. Half Cents," Goldberg Auctioneers, January 2014, Lot 113 - $13,225. Nearly all of the coin's original red remains. Bluish-steel and brown toning is mostly concentrated at the center and lower portion of the reverse. A series of minuscule ticks is visible just below the bust truncation. On the reverse, a cluster of tiny diagonal marks appears above HALF |
| #2 PCGS MS64RB |
| #5 PCGS MS63RB |
| #5 PCGS MS63RB |
1828 Classic Head Half Cent, Cohen-2, 12 Stars
Eckberg 1-A. Breen-3. PCGS (as 12 stars: BN #1150, RB#1151; as 12 Stars, Cohen-2: BN #35264, RB #35265). Guide Book variety: “12 Stars.” Rarity-1.
The 1828 Classic Head Half Cent, 12 Stars is one of two Guide Book varieties for the year and one of three die marriages overall. It is cataloged as Cohen-2 in Roger S. Cohen, Jr.’s American Half Cents (1982) and as Eckberg 1-A in Bill Eckberg’s The Half Cent, 1793–1857 (2019). Notably, the 12-star configuration is unique to this single die marriage, whereas the 13-star version was produced using two distinct pairings.
The 12 Stars variety is as distinct as it is curious. While the date is shifted slightly to the right, sufficient space remains for the traditional 13th star; yet, the reason for this engraver's blunder—and why the Mint released such a large quantity of the type—remains a mystery.
According to the PCGS Population Report, the 12 Stars variety accounts for approximately 21% of the total 1828 population. However, its true scarcity is realized when evaluating coins with Red Brown (RB) color. At this level of condition rarity, the 13 Stars variety outnumbers the 12 Stars by a factor of nearly 38:1. The survival rate of Red and Red Brown 13-star examples was aided tremendously by Benjamin Collins’ 1884 discovery of a hoard containing several thousand Mint State Red specimens. These remained available in roll quantities as late as the 1950s.
Evidence of this long-standing discrepancy in scarcity is found in the 1951–1952 4th Edition of the Guide Book, where Uncirculated (presumably brown) 1828 12 Stars Half Cents were listed at $7.50 (approximately $96 adjusted for 2026 inflation), while the more common 13 Stars were priced at just $5.00 ($64). These are truly "long ago" prices. Today, a PCGS MS63BN example of the 12 Stars variety typically commands over $2,000, while a 13 Stars example in the same grade generally brings $550 to $800.
Diagnostic pickup points include:
- Configuration: 12 stars are arranged in a 7×5 formation.
- Date Position: Date shifted to the riight, while the 13 stars variety features a more centered date.
- Empty Space: A prominent gap exists at the bottom of the right side where the 13th star would typically be located.
- Reverse: Top of H in HALF is closed.
- Pronounced Doubling on the Serif of C
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