1828 12 Stars

The 1828 half cent comes in two varieties defined by the number of stars on the obverse: twelve and thirteen. The standard arrangement for the Classic Head design called for thirteen stars, one for each original colony. The 1828 12 Stars variety is missing one, and the reason is a die preparation error: the engraver simply punched one fewer star than intended. Whether the star was forgotten, whether the spacing was misjudged leaving no room for the thirteenth, or whether a punch slip made one star illegible enough to be counted as absent varies depending on which specialist you ask.

The total 1828 mintage was 606,000 coins, the highest figure in the Classic Head series since 1809. That total was divided between the 12 Stars and 13 Stars die marriages, with the 12 Stars variety generally considered the scarcer of the two. The exact split is unknown. Mint records did not distinguish between varieties within a date, but survival data suggests the 13 Stars dies were used for the larger portion of production.

The 12 Stars variety is easy to identify: count the stars. Six should appear on the left side of the obverse, seven on the right, for a total of thirteen. On the 12 Stars die, one star is missing from one side, and a careful count confirms the variety immediately. No magnification is needed. This makes the 12 Stars one of the most beginner-friendly varieties in early American copper, since the diagnostic is a simple count rather than a judgment call about punch sizes or die states.

Pricing for the 12 Stars carries a modest premium over the 13 Stars variety. The 1828 date is common enough that both varieties are available without extraordinary effort, but the 12 Stars is the one variety collectors pursue specifically, and that targeted demand sustains the premium.