First, some introductory comments. I'm doing this because I've always wanted the set to be more than coins I've acquired and then stuck away never to be seen again until I go to the great beyond (direction to be determined upon my demise). Hence I like to show my coins. My type set has been a work in progress for 15-20 years. It is based on the NGC Registry Type Set/1793-1964. It's criteria has changes over time. It started as XF or better/$500 or less. That has long since changed. I'll start from the lowest face value coins. My photographic skills and equipment have also changed over time so some images are less than desirable. But my bank wouldn't be thrilled with me spending hours there re-photographing my coins so I'll have to use what's currently available. On to the images; half cents as the title says. 1793 Liberty Cap, Head Facing Left - NGC F-12 1795 Liberty Cap, Head Facing Right, Lettered Edge - PCGS XF-40 1804 Draped Bust, Spiked Chin - PCGS VF-30 1806 Draped Bust - NGC AU-58 BN 1834 Classic Head - PCGS AU-58 1853 Braided Hair, C-1 - NGC MS-62 BN One cent coins in a week or so.
Wow. I could stare at these all day. Especially that 1793 and 1806. I hope to some day find coins this nice. Thanks for sharing
I have a full Red Book set of the Classic head half cents (not any of the proof-only years). It was one of my early interest areas which is why I have a full set. Also a full set of the Braided Hair (1849-1857), again minus proofs.
Those are expensive. That's why I stay away from proofs no matter what series. EXCEPTION: My birth year set (1941).
This is the only one that I’ve ever owned, but it was sold recently along with twelve double eagles and a 1870 proof seated dollar so that I could refinance my house and knock ten years off of my mortgage. I hope to get this one back soon, I sold it to a friend who promised to sell it back to me once I get a little more disposable scratch in my account. I think he just likes bragging to our coin club that he got it off of me. Beautiful type set @kanga. I’m sort of surprised that you don’t do some proofs though, I’ve seen some of the beautiful and high end sets that you’ve done.
On the 1852 Proof, how do you know if it is original, or 1st restrike, or 2nd restrike? Is that the B-1 designation? And what would the markers be, between the 3 types of 1852 1/2 cent proofs?
Very nice set. I like the surfaces on the 1793; tough to find one of those that isn't corroded. The 1795 is the prize of the set: a beautiful, tan VF. The one coin you might want to upgrade is the Draped Bust. It's an interesting die state, but for a type set, you could get a nicer one that would match the others better. You might also want to get a 1794. Many consider that a separate type, as it was made from a different hub than the 1793 and 1795-7 coins.
Very nice collection of half cents. Congratulations. I seem to recall you also had an 1811 C-1 and also the C-2?
The original (there is some debate to this) has a large berries reverse and is crazy rare and expensive. The first restrike has a doubled base if the T in the reverse and the second restrike has some small die chips or breaks at about five o’clock at the rim on the reverse. My former one is the first restrike.
I didn't know, because if they were restrikes with the same dies, I didn't know how they could tell them apart (besides provenance). Thanks for the explanation/ information.