1824 50C AU58 认证号35087576, PCGS号6137

O-112a (112.2), ex-Keigwin, "Lovely grey dirt, untouched, unspoiled." This was part of a six coin lot that Sheridan Downey bought (or took on consignment) in 2018, which he labeled as the Manheim coins. These are parts on two notes he sent along over the course of the transaction; “I purchased the three half dollars in 1975 from the last descendent of the Ensminger family of Manheim. The Ensminger's were prominent business people in Manheim starting circa 1790’s. Samuel A. Ensminger, born 1763, opened an Apothecary Shop in Manheim circa 1793. He and family members, besides being in the drug store business, also were photographers, tinsmiths, surveyors, scriveners, and published The Sun, Manheim’s first newspaper (1841). The person from whom I purchased the coins had a treasure trove of Ensminger heirlooms but almost nothing was sold until she passed away in 1991. Fortunately, for me, I worked with her husband in a local office, and it was only because of this that I was given the opportunity to purchase the half dollars. In 1991, at the public estate auction, there were so many items to be sold - and the sale was so poorly conducted - that local treasures were not recognized and properly represented to bidders, resulting in history and items being lost. Her 1991 estate sale was a disaster. What should have taken three days of selling was sold in one day.” He followed-up with a second message. I like the last sentence. “The pictures look great, thanks. I’ll tell you another story. For a few years I lost track of where I placed the 1824 half dollar but I knew that somewhere among my numismatic items it will be found. I only located it about six months ago in a coin box with a superb New Jersey colonial cent and some miscellaneous items. I considered the 1824 slightly less in grade to the superb 1827 and 1831 but I liked the sharp appearance of the die crack and probably separated the coins for further checking. For a lot of years, my collecting interest has been the history connected to items. Whenever I acquired an item, numismatic, antique, or Americana, if there was a story to be preserved, I wanted to record it. To me, history expresses the real value of items." Attractive dusky golden-grey with touches of russets and greens, unspoiled luster and splendid surfaces. The strike is bold and the obverse crack is quite pronounced. A magnificent example.

Ron Guth

1824 Half Dollars are found with a "normal" date and different overdates (1824/1, 1824/4, and 1924 over various overdates). As a date, the 1824 Half Dollar is relatively common, with over 1,300 graded by PCGS alone (as of June 2011).  The "normal" date is the most common of the 1824 varieties -- by far -- with over 900 graded by PCGS in all grades.  In Mint State, the 1824 "normal" date is available in a variety of grades, most usually MS-64.  As expected, Gems are quite rare.  The finest example certified by PCGS is an amazing MS-68, one of only two Capped Bust, Lettered Edge Half Dollars to have received that grade at PCGS since the company's inception in 1986 (that beauty is illustrated above)!