1806 Small 6, Stems

The Small 6 Stems variety completes the recognized 1806 half cent varieties: Large 6 with Stems, Small 6 without Stems, and Small 6 with Stems. The pairing of the compact 6 punch with a Stems reverse creates the third die marriage for the year. Each variety represents a distinct combination of obverse and reverse dies that produced a group of coins with consistent features.

With three varieties sharing a 356,000-coin mintage, each variety's individual production was roughly a third of the total, assuming equal die life, which is an approximation at best. Some die pairs lasted longer than others depending on die steel quality, the hardness of the planchet copper, and the skill of the press operator in maintaining consistent striking pressure. The Mint did not record how many coins each die pair produced, so relative scarcity within the date is estimated from survival counts rather than production data.

The 1806 Small 6 Stems is available in the usual grade range for the series; most examples fall between Good and Fine, with occasional pieces in Very Fine or better. The design is unchanged from 1800, and the production quality is consistent with the standards the Mint had established by this point in the series. Strike quality is generally adequate, with fully formed design elements on most well-preserved examples.

Copper quality varies coin to coin. Some 1806 half cents display smooth, dense planchets that have aged to an even chocolate brown. Others show rougher metal with visible porosity or spots, reflecting inconsistencies in the copper stock. The difference is a factor of the raw material, not the striking, and it affects both the coin's appearance and its market value. A smooth, even surface in Fine will consistently outsell a rough, spotted surface in the same grade.