Variety Equivalents: Breen 1, Gilbert 1

Notes:
This was the only use of the obverse die.  A small patch of raised, crisscross lines appears to the right of the date, perhaps indicating an attempt to efface a mis-punched "6."

This was the only use of the reverse die.

Attribution guide:
The key to telling the two 1826 Half Cent varieties apart is to look at the reverse of the coin and note the position of the leaf tip relative to the final S of STATES.  On 1826 Cohen 1, the leaf tip is right of the S; on 1826 Cohen 2, the leaf tip is centered below the S.

Images courtesy of Superior Galleries

Recent appearances:
MS-62 Brown.  Ex - Heritage Numismatic Auctions, Inc.'s "Philadelphia 2000 Signature Sale", August 6-7, 2000, Lot 5391, not illustrated, sold for $488.75

Del Bland graded MS-60.  Ex - Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc.'s "The Benson Collection - Part I", February 16, 18-20, 2001, Lot 214, illustrated, sold for $977.00

Del Bland graded AU-55.  Ex - Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc.'s "The Benson Collection - Part I", February 16, 18-20, 2001, Lot 215, illustrated, sold for $310.00

AU-55.  Ex- Stack's "The September Sale", September 12-13, 2000, Lot 45, not sold 

AU-50 (illustrated above).  Superior Galleries' "Pre-Long Beach" Sale, June 5-7, 2000, Lot 93A, where it was described as follows: "1826 C-1 R1 AU50 Glossy dark chocolate brown and steel with a couple peeps of frosty reddish tan faded down from mint color on both sides. There is a dull nick hidden in the hair left of star 8; otherwise the surfaces are very nice. Manley state 4.0."

Del Bland graded AU-50.  Ex - Ira & Larry Goldberg Coin & Collectibles' "The Fairchild Family Trust Collection Sale", May 28-30, 2001, Lot 116, "Breen-1, C-1", illustrated, sold for $121.00

AU50.  Ex - Superior Galleries "Pre-Long Beach Coin Sale", May 27-29, 2001, Lot 1079, illustrated, sold for $138.00

Sources and/or recommended reading:
"American Half Cents - The 'Little Half Sisters' (Second Edition)" by Roger S. Cohen, Jr.

"Walter Breen's Encyclopedia of United States Half Cents 1793-1857" by Walter Breen (purchase a copy by clicking on the title)

Relevant collector organizations:
Early American Coppers Club