Attribution Guide to the Classic Half Eagles

Philadelphia Mint Issues

1. Click a date.
2. Answer the question by clicking on "Yes" or "No".
3. ... Repeat until a variety is found.
4. Click on the variety designation (e.g., "McCloskey 5-D") to open a detailed description in a new tab.
5. Click on an image to zoom to an enlargement.
6. Backtrack by clicking on the previous answer, or by reloading the page. For example, if you clicked on "Yes" and didn't intend to do so, just click on "Yes" again and the "No" alternative will be revealed.

• 1834
  • Is the 4 in the date a crosslet 4?
    -> Yes
    • McCloskey 5-D       
  • -> No
    • Is the 8 in the date a script (or fancy) 8?
      -> Yes
      • Is the 4 close to the curl and extend beyond the left edge of the curl?
        -> Yes
        • McCloskey 1-A       
      • -> No (The 4 is distant from the curl.)
        • Is there a berry in the leaves of the olive branch?
          -> Yes
          • McCloskey 3-C       
        • -> No
          • Does the eagle have a tongue?
            -> Yes
            • McCloskey 3-A       
          • -> No
            • McCloskey 3-B       
    • -> No (The 8 is the block 8.)
      • Is the 4 nearly touching the curl?
        -> Yes
        • McCloskey 4-C       
      • -> No (The 4 is triple punched and distant from the curl.)
        • Is there a berry in the leaves of the olive branch?
          -> Yes
          • McCloskey 2-C       
        • -> No
          • Does the eagle have a tongue?
            -> Yes
            • McCloskey 2-A       
          • -> No
            • McCloskey 2-B       
• 1835
  • Is the 8 in the date a script (or fancy) 8?
    -> Yes
    • Does the eagle have a tongue?
      -> Yes
      • McCloskey 3-D       
    • -> No
      • McCloskey 3-E       
  • -> No (The 8 is the block 8.)
    • Does the 3 have a long center arc?
      -> Yes
      • Is the upper leaf up near the left side and close to the U in United?
        -> Yes
        • McCloskey 2-C       
      • -> No (The leaf is well below U in United.)
        • Does the eagle have a tongue?
          -> Yes
          • McCloskey 2-D       
        • -> No
          • (no varieties)
    • -> No (The 5 has a small flag.) (This is obverse 1.)
      • Is the upper leaf up near the left side and close to the U in United?
        -> Yes
        • McCloskey 1-C       
      • -> No (The leaf is well below U in United.)
        • Does the eagle have a tongue?
          -> Yes
          • McCloskey 1-D       
        • -> No
          • Is the 5 in "5 D." completely under the feather?
            -> Yes
            • McCloskey 1-A       
          • -> No
            • McCloskey 1-B       
• 1836
  • Is the 8 in the date a script (or fancy) 8?
    -> Yes
    • McCloskey 7-F       
  • -> No (The 8 is a block 8.)
    • Is the 1 in the date no taller than the other three digits?
      -> Yes (S13 close to denticles)
      • McCloskey 5-D       
    • -> No (The 1 is taller than the other digits.)
      • Is the 6 centered under the curl?
        -> Yes
        • Is there a double forehead curl?
          -> Yes (no obverse die cracks)
          • Is there a berry in the leaves of the olive branch?
            ->Yes (small bud)
            • McCloskey 4-D       
          • -> No
            • McCloskey 4-C       
        • -> No (die crack S8 through digit 6)
          • Is there a berry in the leaves of the olive branch?
            -> Yes
            • McCloskey 2-A       
          • -> No (Eagle has a tongue.)
            • McCloskey 2-B       
      • -> No
        • Is there a berry in the leaves of the olive branch?
          -> Yes
          • Is the berry small?
            -> Yes (die crack between 83)
            • McCloskey 6-E       
          • -> No (large berry, die crack S5/S6)
            • McCloskey 1-A       
        • -> No 10 (S13 close to denticles)
          • McCloskey 3-C       
• 1837
  • Is the 8 in the date a script (or fancy) 8?
    -> Yes
    • McCloskey 3-C       
  • -> No (The 8 is the block 8.)
    • Is the 7 centered under the curl?
      -> Yes (single forehead curl)
      • McCloskey 2-B       
    • -> No (double forehead curl)
      • McCloskey 1-A       
• 1838
  • Is the 8 entirely below the curl, and does the 1 have a shallow top serif?
    -> Yes
    • McCloskey 2-B       
  • -> No (8 is 80% below the curl and close to the 3. 1 has a tall top serif.)
    • McCloskey 1-A       

@ Mark S. Ghiorso, ClassicHalfEagles.com, December 2017