This is a restrike, made in the 1860s or 1870s, using an obverse design originally used on J93-J94/P105-P106 combined with the regular large letter reverse used from 1842-1866. Its die state shows less rust than some of the others using this obverse. It is attributed to Gobrecht in the original editions of Judd but a July 12, 1843 letter from W.E. Dubois to Matthew Stickney in the Peabody Essex Museum attributes this design to Kneass as noted below. "One half dollar of 1839, of a die which you never saw before, nor did I, until today. This die was made by Mr. Kneass, the late engraver, since deceased. A very few pieces were struck; I don't think I could get another, except for the Cabinet, where there is none as yet". The following are confirmed: 1) Anderson-Dupont, Stacks 11/54, River Oaks-B/R 11/76, Witham-Auction 81, Evan-B/M 8/98, Superior 5/03 as PCGS64, Simpson-Heritage 11/20 - PCGS65, rim mark at NI of United on reverse, illustrated above 2) Stacks 76 ANA, Stacks 11/89, Queller-Heritage 1/09, B/M 8/09 ANA, Heritage 2/10, Heritage 8/11 - NGC64 3) Farouk?, Numismatics Ltd, Bass-HWBRF, B/M 5/99, Superior 4/03 - PCGS62 4) Dr Judd, Merkin 6/30/65 trade, CMB-Smithsonian Was this struck using the same reverse die as J538/P602, the unique 1866 no motto half dollar and/or J243-J244/P299-P300? These were also struck in copper J98/P108 with the following confirmed: 1) Parmelee (NY Coin & Stamp 6/1890, lot 41), Byron Reed-Durham Museum - ICG64BN 2) Leidman in 1972, Bass-B/M 5/99 as PCGS64BN, Simpson-Heritage 2/21, GreatCollections.com 3/5/23 - PCGS65BN 3) Farouk, Dibello-Stacks 5/70, Witham-Auction 81 cleaned & lacquered, Superior 10/92 as PCGS65BN (chocolatized), Queller-Heritage 1/09 - NGC67BN 4) Kreisberg, Heritage 6/87 - graded proof 64BN 5) Legend inventory 12/12, Heritage 1/18 FUN - PCGS64RB 6) Newman-EPNNES, Heritage 4/13 as NGC66RB, Simpson-Heritage 1/21 - PCGS66RB One of these is ex Stickney, Brand (journal #38996). To see images of all of these, click here. Photo courtesy of PCGS.