Lot 3
3
1831 PROOF HALF-CENT SECOND RESTRIKE, SMALL BERRIES
Half-Cent, 1831, classic head, designed by John Reich and modified by William Kneass, second restrike, small berries reverse, sharp wire rim around reverse periphery (Breen 3; Gilbert 1, rarity 7), choice to gem Proof, one of just four specimens listed in Walter Breen's Encyclopedia, lustrous brown surfaces with generous amount of red present

Details
Half-Cent, 1831, classic head, designed by John Reich and modified by William Kneass, second restrike, small berries reverse, sharp wire rim around reverse periphery (Breen 3; Gilbert 1, rarity 7), choice to gem Proof, one of just four specimens listed in Walter Breen's Encyclopedia, lustrous brown surfaces with generous amount of red present

Lot Essay

The 1831 Half-Cent with small berries on the reverse wreath is actually a restrike made some time in 1859 or 1860, although Walter Breen speculated that they could have been made as late as 1868. This rarity first came to light in 1879, at which time the numismatist Captain John Haseltine asserted that just twelve specimens had been coined. The 1831 Half-Cents are the only year to exhibit large stars on the obverse. Beside Byron Reed, other owners of this rarity have included King Farouk of Egypt and Louis Eliasberg.