Purchased 1804 half cent, what does “Cohen-13” mean?

I picked this up for my 7070 book - I liked the way the coin looked and bought it based on that, but I notice this cohen-13 designation and I can’t figure out what that means. When I google I get links to other 1804 half cents but no explanation. Thank you!

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

Also, just so I don’t seem totally oblivious - I assume it’s similar to a VAM, and Cohen is an author or researcher ?

 

Yes, Cohen was a numismatist who researched and catologued varieties of early copper

 

Correct, it identifies the die pairing. Roger Cohen wrote “American Half Cents” AKA “Little Half Sisters.”

Cohen 13 is common for that year, but that looks like a great one for a Dansco. Nice coin

 

It refers to die marriage/variety.

 

Cohen was Roger Cohen a specialist in half cents. His book The Little Half Sisters identified all the different die marriages of business strike half cents from 1793 to 1857. For 1804 there are 13 different die varieties. The C-13 is noted as having a plain 4 (no vertical serifs on the right end of the crossbar of the 4. This die was only used on 2 varieties, C-11 and C-13) The reverse has no stems on the wreath. This die was only used on C-12 and C-13. So C-13 would be described as 1804 plain 4, stemless. As mentioned it is one of the most common varieties for the year.