1847 Hawaiian Cent - Crosslet 4, 15 Berries (7L/8R)

Coin Details

Auction Record

$646 AU58 01-01-2014 Stack's Bowers

Description

The 1847 Hawaiian Cent with Crosslet 4 and 15 Berries is a distinct die variety of the first Hawaiian coin, differentiated from its Plain 4 counterpart by the style of the numeral 4 in the date. On this variety, the vertical stroke of the 4 features a small horizontal crosslet or serif at the top, giving the numeral a more finished, formal appearance. The reverse wreath contains fifteen berries, consistent with the standard design, though the exact left-right distribution may vary from the Plain 4 version. The Crosslet 4 variety represents the use of a different obverse die during the production run of the 1847 Hawaiian cent. Whether the two obverse dies were used simultaneously or sequentially is not definitively established, but the existence of distinct die varieties indicates that at least two obverse dies were prepared for the modest production run at the Attleboro, Massachusetts facility. The die preparation for this small colonial-style coinage would not have demanded the same rigor as major mint operations, and variations in minor design elements like numeral style were common in mid-nineteenth-century token and medal production. The Crosslet 4 variety is generally considered scarcer than the Plain 4 version among surviving examples, making it the more desirable variety for Hawaiian specialists. Both varieties share the same basic design: the Kamehameha III portrait obverse with "KA MOI" designation and the "HAPA HANERI" reverse denomination within a wreath. Collectors of Hawaiian coinage place particular emphasis on die variety identification, as the limited number of Hawaiian coin types means that variety collecting allows for greater depth within what would otherwise be a very compact series. The Crosslet versus Plain 4 distinction is the most immediately recognizable variety point on the 1847 cent and is discernible even on well-circulated examples.

Rarity Notes

Scarcer than the Plain 4 variety. Circulated examples are uncommon, and mint state survivors are rare. The crosslet 4 is the key diagnostic and can be identified on lower-grade examples.

Cross References

Medcalf-Russell 2CC-2; PCGS #245390; Crosslet 4, 15 Berries variety