1811  C-2  R3  VF35.  Railroad Rim or Partial Collar Strike.   Ten points sharper but struck on a planchet that has beveled edges on most of the reverse rim, most notably over OF and under the wreath ribbon.  The obverse is mostly unaffected, although the diameter is a bit oversized above the head.  There are a few light contact marks on the face, none notable or at all distracting, and an old pinscratch on the lower part of the neck.  Nice glossy dark chocolate and steel brown.  Manley state 3.0, the obverse die clashmarks strong.  Very attractive and quite odd due to the partial collar strike.  Removed from a PCGS slab graded EF45 and labeled “Partial Collar Strike”.  An attractive example of a date that’s very difficult to find in high grade—and an extremely rare mint error to boot, especially for a half cent.  Ex J. R. Frankenfield, M&G Auctions/Superior 2/17/01:123-Bill Weber, M&G Auctions/Superior 6/3/04:2359-Chris McCawley-Richard Gross-Tom Reynolds-Bowers & Merena 3/22/07:1069-Michael Spurlock.

 M&G assessment:  Concur.  EF40 net VF35 for the minor contact marks.

 1825  C-1  R3  AU55+.   Brownish tan color with moderate reflectivity.  There is a light hairline noted on the cheek and a small mark hidden in the dentils above ER.  The reverse is rotated 135 degrees CW.  There is a small abrasion near the center dot on the reverse.  Other small ticks require a strong glass to locate.  Manley state 3.0.  John Peters’ “egg” die clashmark is still visible.  Near choice coin and one of the finest known of the variety.  Removed from a PCGS slab graded MS64BN (#07341023, population 12/3 for the date).  Ex Chris McCawley 2006-Michael Spurlock.

 M&G assessment:  AU55.  Frosty medium brown, just a touch of friction on the highest points from mint state.

 1825  C-2  R1  MS60+.   Very choice coin with glossy light reddish brown surfaces.  No noticeable marks.  Manley state 3.0.  Removed from a PCGS slab graded MS64BN (#30039279, population 14/3) and from an NGC slab graded MS65BN (population 2/3).  Ex Jack Beymer-Jim McGuigan 7/19/05-Michael Spurlock.

 M&G assessment:  MS60.  Lustrous light steel brown with delicate overtones of light bluish steel.  Underlying faded mint color shows through on the obverse.

 1825  C-2  R1  MS60.   Wonderful glossy surfaces with strong cartwheel effect on both sides.  Mint red turning to light tan with steel brown devices.  A few trivial handling marks are visible under a strong glass.  None are detracting.  Normal die alignment.  Manley state 3.0.  Removed from a PCGS slab graded MS64BN (#21896918, population 14/3).  Ex David Lawrence internet auction #115:4805-Michael Spurlock.

 M&G assessment:  Concur.  Frosty bluish steel brown with lustrous golden tan in protected areas on the obverse.  Excellent eye appeal for the grade.

 1826  C-1  R1  MS63+.   This is an absolutely spectacular example with frosty luster intermingled with tan, brown, and olive color.  Faded traces of original mint color remain on the reverse.  A planchet flaw at the base of ME serves as an important pedigree identifier.  Although the left side stars are flat, virtually all of the remaining details are bold and sharply rendered.  Choice.  Jules Reiver carried this coin as MS65 in the 1/200 survey—the #1 condition census coin.  This is the Manley plate coin for his state 3.0.  Removed from an NGC slab graded MS65BN (#656376-009, population 4/1).  The NGC label shows the attribution and Reiver provenance.  Ex J. J. Teaparty 6/23/86-Jules Reiver, Heritage 1/24/06:19107-Ed Fuhrman-Michael Spurlock.

 M&G assessment:  MS64.   An outstanding example, sharp and gorgeous.  Highly lustrous light bluish steel with hints of very faded red in protected areas of the reverse.  A small, shallow planchet flake at the right foot of the M in AMERICA is the only mark, and it is a mint-made flaw.

 1826  C-2  R3+  AU55.   Sharpness near mint state but cleaned and retoned glossy medium brown and chocolate with a small splash of darker olive brown toning at the base of the T in LIBERTY.  The only contact marks are a few tiny ticks or planchet chips on the cheek and a couple more on the bottom edge of the bust over the 82.  Sharply struck.  The repunching at the 6 is strong.  Manley state 2.0.  This is the Cohen plate coin for the variety in his second edition (both the obverse and reverse).  It placed third at the EAC Half Cent Happening.  Ex T. Harrison Garrett in the late 19^th century-John Work Garrett-Johns Hopkins University, Bowers & Ruddy 11/28/79:23-Bill Weber (via Bob Everett) 4/92-Allan J. Kollar-unknown-Superior 9/19/05:198-Michael Spurlock.

 M&G assessment:  MS60 net AU50.  Nicely recolored but hairlines from the cleaning cover the fields.  Great eye appeal regardless.