Most specialists in the half cent series would be overjoyed to own any 1811 with a modicum of visual appeal. Most are well worn, and few among them are beautiful. "Most 1811 C-1 half cents are in grades below Fine," according to Manley, and the somewhat more common Cohen-2 is even scarcer in high grades than this variety. PCGS has graded a Mint State example of this date on just five occasions. The two best, of which this is the finer, were in the Missouri Cabinet Collection: this MS-66 RB (PCGS) Cohen-1 and a MS-65+ BN Cohen-2. The McGuigan Collection includes an MS-62 BN Cohen-2, and an MS-63 BN (PCGS) was sold in April 2014.

Even before a cannon had been pointed at Fort Sumter, 1811 half cents were a desirable commodity. Montroville W. Dickeson, as early as 1859, described them as "rare and valuable, as they are to be found but in few cabinets." Today, it remains a key to the series. Rick Coleman summed this coin's appeal well when describing its first place finish at the 1998 Half Cent Happening: "R. Tettenhorst's 1811 C1 was the star of the show. As Mike George commented, 'Once you see that coin, it changes everything.' I was pleased to have it present. There is nothing like a proof like, Mint State, red brown 1811 C1 to ensure that the Happening is a success."

The example to the left was sold by Stack's Bowers Galleries in the D. Brent Pogue Part V Auction, where it realized $998,750.