NGC to Attribute Cohen Varieties

Beginning July 15 Numismatic Guaranty Corporation will no longer attribute half cents by Breen numbers. In their place NGC will utilize the numbering system devised by Roger S. Cohen, Jr. in his book American Half Cents: The Little Half Sisters.

Though both Cohen and Walter Breen are deceased, their respective reference books on the half cent series remain in numismatic circulation. When NGC began attributing half cent varieties several years ago, it appeared that Breen’s numbering system was the more likely to be maintained and updated. This changed with the subsequent publication of Ronald P. Manley’s reference titled The Half Cent Die State Book 1793-1857. The excellence of both the text and illustrations in this volume, which uses Cohen’s numbers, has increased the utility of the Cohen system and increased its popularity among half cent collectors.

Persons submitting half cents to NGC for both grading and variety attribution should add $5 to the regular grading tier price. For half cents already certified by NGC, a variety attribution may be added by submitting the coin in its holder under NGC’s Designation Review service. The fee for this service is $10, which includes the cost of reholdering. NGC-certified half cents that presently include a Breen attribution may be converted to the equivalent Cohen number by submitting them under NGC’s Reholder service at $4 per coin.

NGC may be contacted by writing to P.O. Box 4776, Sarasota, FL 34230 or by calling toll-free at 800-NGC-COIN (642-2646). NGC’s email address is Service@NGCcoin.com.