Torres Half Cent Collection

LOT 19 1795 C-5b R3 No Pole, Thick Planchet, AU55 PCGS, CAC Approved. Very attractive frosty brown and chocolate with slightly darker steel brown toning on the highpoints and lighter brown in protected areas. Essentially flawless except for microscopic planchet flakes in the fields, mostly on the reverse. No corrosion, verdigris, or notable contact marks. A few shallow flakes at ST in STATES and a small but deeper one under the right side of the L in HALF are good identifying marks. Struck on a thick planchet weighing 110.0 grains (versus the thin planchet standard of 84.0 grains). These thick half cent planchets were most likely from spoiled or unused large cent planchets that were cut down for a half cent. There is no visible undertype on this piece so a cut-down unused cent planchet is the most-likely source. An interesting feature of these thick planchet strikes is the diameter which often is a millimeter or two larger than what we see on thin planchet version. This accounts for the longer dentils. In addition the strike is normally a bit softer on the date and HALF CENT, especially on the 5. It appears these thick planchet were slightly harder and more brittle than their thin-planchet counterparts, but any additional rolling to reduce the thickness would increase the hardness. E-MDS. The die cracks on the reverse are relatively light and the swelling at the F in HALF is not severe. Our grade is EF45. This is the eighth piece listed in the Breen-Hanson condition census where called “Extremely Fine” (page 151 in the Breen encyclopedia). 35086.55/43841921 $37,500 Ex Nicholson Family Collection, Stack’s 6/2/1967:758-Donald Groves Partrick Collection, Heritage Auctions 4/23/2021:3616 (as NGC AU55BN, CAC)- unknown-Stuart Levine-Jonathan Kern (via Chris McCawley) 3/22/2024-The J. Torres Collection of Half Cents

The J. Torres Collection of Half Cents

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