My first half cent

I've never had a half cent, and most of them are out of my impulse buy price range.
This one has a spot of what appears to be solder on the face, and some weird reddish
discoloration on both sides. But the price was right ($20) and now I have an example
of the denomination, at least.

US, 1/2 cent, "Classic Head", 1809

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

That's not a terrible example! Much nicer than mine!

 

I recently realized I don't have one. That needs to change...

Nice details, and I would think an acetone bath will get rid of the red stuff (paint/nail polish?).

 

I also don't have one,really like the classic design and congrats.

 

Excepting that solder, acetone might loosen things somewhat. Just drop it in a glass jar, cover it with acetone, cover the jar, and let it sit overnight. If the solution is cloudy or discolored, things are working. Switch out with fresh acetone and keep repeating it until the solution comes up clear the next day.

Good buy, BTW. That's my kind of collector. The better ones were out of your range, but you had to have one, and you made it happen.

 

My first half cent.
Can't figure out if this is an 8/9. The dealer gave it to me.

 

One of my favorite denominations, but yes, they can get a little pricey. My Half Cent short type set below will probably remain forever incomplete, because I can't imagine ever paying what I would need to for decent examples of either the 1793 Liberty Cap, facing left or the Liberty Cap, facing right.

 

I dream of owning one of those and like the design of it but the chain cent will come first.

 

Nice! Looking real good for $20 I'm a sucker for early copper... definitely my weakest point when it comes to coins that I CANNOT pass up when I find a good deal... #addicted, lol

 

You won't believe it,when I make a promise to save half and the next day well.........

 

Oh, I think I would believe it lol... We've got the same problem

 

I have plenty of cash but when some gets put in the bank that's a different story.

 

The 1809 half cent is one of the most common Turban Head dates. There are six known die varieties. One of them, Cohen 1, would sell for over $1,000 in the condition of the OP coin. Unfortunately that piece is a Cohen 3, which is a common variety.

The Red Book has long stated that "all half cents are scarce." That is a true statement.

 

It’s an 1809 Cohen 6. You can tell by the position of the leaf tips close to the O in OF.

 

Nice
my thought.
Every coin needs a home and every home needs a coin

 

Sorry, but you need to review the position of the curl over the "0" in the date. It's a Cohen 3.

 

Nice buy. As for the red on the coin, it could be nail polish and as mentioned above, an acetone dip/soak might remove it. Unfortunately, nothing will completely remove solder, if that's what it is. Good luck.

 

I usually concentrate on reverse differences. I checked Heritage and it looked like C-3 to me. But they also had a listing for a C-9, but no C-7 or C-8. It's possible they are duplicates in different die stages and have been dropped.

This is my C-2 with a different obverse and the same reverse:



Note how the star right of 9 is closer on yours than mine. While I can't find a record, I'm sure I paid substantially more than $20 for mine. Nice find.

 

Patience is golden, you found one within your budget, and it's a nice. Good for you.

 

So far as I know, there are only six varieties of the 1809 half cent. I have had them all, but not at the same time. I once owned that plate coin that is in Roger Cohn's half cent book. I bought it from him. I am sorry that I sold that one.

You can start attributing the 1809 half cents from the reverse, but you can't ignore the obverse. The fairly common 1809 over the inverted 9 (sometimes called "9 over 6") is similar to the very scarce C-1. You get excited at times and have you hopes dashed when you really look at a run of the mill blundered over date.