1828 1/2C 13 Stars, BN MS63BN Certification #25336516, PCGS #1147

Charles Morgan

The 1828 Classic Head Half Cent, 13 Stars

The United States Mint did not produce half cents in 1827 but resumed their issue in 1828. The 1828 Classic Head Half Cent has a reported mintage of 606,000 pieces—a sizable total second only to the series’ inaugural 1809 issue (#1123).

For this release, Mint Chief Engraver William Kneass made slight modifications to the obverse, most notably adjusting the chin. While The Red Book denotes two primary varieties—13 Stars and 12 Stars—specialists have identified three distinct die marriages. Cohen-1 (#35258) and Cohen-3 (#35262) comprise the 13 Stars variety, while Cohen-2 (#35264) is the sole 12 Stars die marriage. None of the three are linked by shared dies in a way that allows for a definitive die sequence.

Of the three, the Cohen-1 is by far the scarcest in Mint State and is likely undervalued in the current market. Following it in rarity is the Cohen-2. By contrast, multiple examples of the Cohen-3 survive in Mint State, including many pieces with Red-Brown (RB) or Red (RD) designations. These are attributed to a hoard of approximately 1,000 pieces discovered in 1884 and sold by Benjamin Collins, a Treasury Department employee-turned-coin dealer.

It is impossible to determine exactly how many 1828 Classic Head Half Cents entered circulation. While many did, Mint records indicate that a significant number of unwanted examples were melted down in 1832.

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