NNP

1836 1/2 C B-1, R.5, PR63 Brown PCGS. Our EAC Grade PR60. Ex: Eliasberg. Considerable faded orange mint color appears on this sharply defined Select proof half cent, with lovely blue-steel and turquoise toning. A few scattered marks and trivial spots are consistent with the grade. Variety: B-1. This early die state coin is an Original strike from 1836. Richard T. Coleman, Jr.'s census of the 1836 Original half cents itemizes 49 proof examples. His census of First Restrike half cents records 12 late die state examples. Population Data (3/15): Including Originals and Restrikes, PCGS reports eight PR63 Brown with 17 finer, including six Red and Brown and one Red. However, this is the only one that carries the Eliasberg pedigree. Heritage Commentary: The 1836 Original and First Restrike half cents were struck from a single die pair, making attribution extremely difficult and sometimes controversial. Attribution is based solely on die state and border appearance. With coins housed in certification holders, such as this one, the border appearance is nearly impossible to ascertain. Provenance: John G. Mills Collection (Chapman Brothers, 4/1904), lot 1334; J.M. Clapp; John H. Clapp; Clapp Estate (1942); Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr.; Eliasberg Collection (Bowers and Merena, 5/1996), lot 451.