1794  C-1a  R2  VF25.  Large Edge Letters.   Slightly sharper with a half dozen light rim bruises on each side plus a small rim nick at UN.  None of the rim bruises is especially distracting, but there are too many to ignore.  Otherwise the surfaces are smooth and attractive, free of distracting marks or planchet flaws.  Glossy olive brown and chocolate.  The date is bold, including the repunching on the 179, and the legends are strong with the reverse rotated 45 degrees CW.  Manley state 1.0.  100.3 grains.  Ex M&G Auctions/Superior 2/5/2006:26.

 M&G assessment:  Concur.

1794  C-1b  R6  G5.  Small Edge Letters.   Light brown with dark steel coloring around LIBERTY.  No significant defects.  Wear commensurate with grade.  Manley state 1.0.  Weight 89.5 grains.  Ex Jack Beymer-unknown-Shawn Yancey-David Consolo 9/11/06-Michael Spurlock.

 M&G assessment:  Sharpness VG8+, net G5+.   Dark steel brown with microscopic roughness but no marks or verdigris.

1794  C-2  R8  G4.  Unlettered Edge.   The obverse is slightly better while the reverse is a bit weaker, the G4 grade an average of the two.  Slightly glossy medium brown with some dark olive specks or crud in the field over the bust and pole.  No corrosion or roughness, but there are a few light contact marks consistent with the grade, including a few hairline scratches in the hair under the cap and some very light rim bruises on both sides.  The date is complete but not strong and most of the legends are clear.  The edge is plain, apparently having missed its turn through the Castaing machine.  Possible unique as a plain edge 1794 C-2.  Manley state 1.0.  Weight 102.4 grains.  This specific coin is mentioned on page 17 of the Manley half cent book.  Ex M&G Auctions 1/6/96:57 (at $14,850)-Ken Seachman-M&G Auctions/Superior 2/22/05:1064-Michael Spurlock.

 M&G assessment:  Concur.   Obverse G5, Reverse AG3.  Although a couple examples of unlettered edge 1794 C-9 half cents are known, this is the only C-2 reported.

1794  C-2a  R2+  VG8.  Small Edge Letters.   Sharpness of F12 but covered with uniform fine roughness under a slightly glossy dark olive and chocolate brown patina.  No verdigris.  The only mark is a fine diagonal hairline scratch inside the wreath at CE.  The date and legends are clear.  EDS, Manley state 1.0.  Weight 99.4 grains.  The reverse is rotated 180 degrees, upset head-to-head.  Removed from a PCGS slab graded G6 (#21940485).  Ex M&G Auctions/Superior 9/5/2004:32-eBay (John Worobetz) 2/6/05-Michael Spurlock.

 M&G assessment:  Concur.   VG10 net VG8.

1794  C-3a  R5  F12+.  Small Edge Letters.   (The 2/1992 Roger Cohen Sale writeup by Superior)  Very Good-8.  105.71 grains.  Struck slightly off center with some of the dentils missing behind and below the hair.  A medium to dark brown color with smooth surfaces interrupted only by two tiny black spots, one before the nose, the other below the Y.  On the reverse, a single light mark up from A4, as well as a group of tiny marks near U.  In summary, a very select example for this grade, which would be a highlight were it not for the prior coin (VF20).  Usual clash marks surround Liberty; none on the reverse and with more pronounced swelling right of the date.  Roger Cohen’s #2 coin.  Manley state 2.0.  Ex Hollinbeck Kagin #296 2/29/1972:1124-Roger S. Cohen, Jr., Superior 2/2/92:17-Ray Rouse 6/30/06-Michael Spurlock.

 M&G assessment:  F12+, very close to F15.  The reverse is close to VF20.  Attractive glossy olive brown and chocolate.  The Cohen sale grade was very conservative, as were many of the catalog grades in that sale.  The obverse was slightly misaligned to K-7.5.

1794  C-4a  R3  EF40+.  Small Edge Letters.   Choice glossy chocolate brown with frosty luster in protected areas of the reverse.  Very nice, virtually flawless except for a few tiny ticks on the neck and cheek.  M-LDS, Manley state 3.0.  The swelling at the lower curls is strong but the crack through M has not formed.  The reverse is rotated 15 degrees CCW.  Plated in Breen to illustrate his die state V.  A choice example at the lower end of the condition census.  Weight 102.9 grains.  Removed from a PCGS slab graded AU53BN.  Ex Hugh Campbell 5/73-Bill Weber, M&G Auctions/Superior 6/2/2002:2250-unknown-Joseph O’Connor (via an intermediary) 1/26/07-Michael Spurlock.

 M&G assessment:  Concur.   Very close to EF45 and quite attractive.