Regency Auction 29

THE REGENCY AUCTION 29
LOT 2
1/2C 1793 PCGS AU53 CAC
A “GEM” of an AU! Among the first coins struck for
circulation from the fledgling Philadelphia mint, the 1793
half cent is a very important and extremely popular issue, a
one-year only type that is highly sought by collectors in all
grades, from environmentally damaged low grade examples
to GEM Mint State. Very RARE in high quality collector
grades like this, even more so with such amazing eye appeal.
This coin has only the lightest traces of circulation. A few
stray marks can be seen on otherwise smooth, hard copper
surfaces. Unlike most of the examples of this date we
see either in auction or on the bourse, which come with
extensive wear or environmental issues, this coin has a
very pleasing medium brown coloration, with only a touch
of wear. There are a few tiny marks and scratches that
can be seen under a glass, and they mostly blend into the
surrounding chocolate brown and olive iridescent toning.
The devices are sharply impressed into the planchet, the
eye appeal is superior to the vast majority of the known
survivors of the date.
The 35,334 half cents struck in this first year were all coined
between May and July 1793. The design, featuring Liberty’s
head facing left with a liberty cap on top of a pole is directly
related to the 1781 Libertas Americana medals struck in
Paris on designs suggested by Ben Franklin. According to
Walter Breen, a who’s who of early mint employees are
thought to have worked on the designs, including David
Rittenhouse, Robert Birch, and Adam Eckfeldt. The present
coin is from the Breen-3, Cohen-3 die pairing.
PCGS 13, NGC 10, CAC 1. This coin has the incorrect
PCGS # on the insert, listed as 1001 for a 1793 with the RB
designation. No CAC-approved example has ever sold in
auction in AU53. The current PCGS Price Guide value is
listed at $40,000 and with its CAC-endorsement and high
end look, this coin should realize in excess of that! A very
desirable numismatic trophy from the infant years of the
republic. Bound for a wonderful collection of half cents or
early type coins.
PCGS# 1001 | ESTIMATE: $35,000+
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