1893-O 50C MS66 认证号19806492, PCGS号6466

Laibstain. Beautiful and colorful toning over good luster. A coin that often comes very weakly struck, but strikes run the gamut up to well struck. The Dale Friend collection had a coin that was a very strong strike, for example. Not a common coin in gem, only three are graded at MS 66, making this one tied for finest known. For comparison, the example from the Duckor collection has a softer strike, particularly in the eagle's left talon area, but gorgeous original toning and nice luster. The third known MS 66 example, from the Hugon Collection, was described as proof-like. For 1893 one notices a considerable drop in available mint state coins available from the previous year, the 92-O. This is one of many very tough coins to find in original gem and better condition in the Barber Half Dollar series. This date in MS 66 only comes up rarely for sale or auction.

David Akers

The 1893-O is scarce, but not really rare in the lower Uncirculated grades. That is, in Choice Uncirculated or lower grades, specimens can generally be located with a little searching. However, in Gem Uncirculated condition, the situation changes dramatically and only a very few such specimens are known...

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Ron Guth

David Akers' assessment of this date was correct in that Gems are truly scarce.  Perhaps a few more individual examples have shown up since he wrote about this date, but no super-Gems (MS-67 or better) have appeared in the intervening years.  The PCGS CoinFacts Condition Census is evenly split between MS65 and MS66 examples (with the latter enumerated above).

Like many coins from the New Orleans Mint, these are sometimes prone to a weak strike.  Flatness can occur on Liberty's lips, forecurls, and along the hairline around her face.  On the reverse, the viewer's right side of the shield and adjacent feathers can be soft, as well as the talon and tail feathers on the same side (the Price/Duckor PCGS MS66 is one such example).  Some examples show a strong strike, but none are fully struck (one of the best-detailed 1893-O Half Dollars is the PCGS MS66 from the Heritage 2/2015 sale, lot 3133).