NNP

1848 1/2 C B-1, Low R.6, Original PR65 Brown PCGS. CAC. Our EAC Grade PR63. About one-quarter of the original orange mint color is evident on this Gem proof. Both sides combined reddish-chocolate brown and blue-steel. The strike is expectedly bold with grand eye appeal, despite a few minuscule obverse spots. Variety: B-1. This Original proof has large berries in the wreath. Population Data (3/15): PCGS lists 14 Original 1848 proof half cents, of which the finest are three at the PR65 level. Those include the present PR65 Brown, one PR65 Red and Brown, and one PR65+ Red and Brown. Heritage Commentary: Microscopic die lines in the obverse field over the head correspond with Breen's "Series VII Restrikes," of which only three examples are known. However, few collectors specialize in the different proof series enumerated in the Breen Half Cent Encyclopedia. Provenance: New England Coin Co. (Henry Berube, 1/1966), lot 16; Stack's (5/1968), lot 156; George F. Scanlon (Stack's, 10/1973), lot 30; Auction '80 (Stack's, 8/1980), lot 1031; Anthony Terranova; Kagin's (1981 FPL); Herman Halpern (Stack's, 3/1986), lot 814; Andrew M. Hain Collection (Stack's, 1/2002), lot 712; Superior (6/2002), lot 2399.