1905-O 50C MS67 认证号39043452, PCGS号6502

The Barber Half is the most difficult coin in a 20th Century type set. Gem examples are common, but coins at the MS67 level become quite scarce. This example sports an incredibly nice strike for any Barber half and detail is particularly nice for a New Orleans coin. All of the stars have sharp centers, with only the eagle's left foot and upper-right corner of the shield showing only the slightest weakness. Cartwheel luster is exceptionally bright and lively. Nice color adds considerably to the eye appeal with nice blues and pinks, and soft peach tones over the portrait. Pull-away toning is notable around devices on both sides. One of my favorites.

Ron Guth

The 1905-O Half Dollar has a small mintage but it is only semi-scarce at best and it is actually quite plentiful in Mint State.  MS63 and MS64 are the grades that a collector is most likely to encounter, but there are also some fabulous Gem and Superb examples for those that seek top quality.  The Dr. Wynsen example that Akers mentioned below went through a number of hands (Dale Friend, Joseph C. Thomas, and Eugene Gardner) and it last sold as a PCGS MS67 for $16,450.  The Eliasberg example sold again in 2015 as a PCGS MS68 for $56,400.  The other PCGS MS68 (ex Duckor) sold for $54,050 in 2015.

As Akers noted, the 1905-O Half Dollars often suffer from a soft strike, but there are some well-struck examples that violate that rule.

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David Akers

The 1905-O is one of the lowest mintage issues in the series; in fact, among all of the branch mint Barber Half Dollar issues, only the 1892-O had a lower mintage. Fortunately, a few extraordinary specimens have been saved; the 1905-O in the Eliasberg sale was nearly perfect, for example, and the Dr. Robert Wynsen specimen is also of exceptional quality. Most 1905-O Half Dollars, even those that might otherwise technically qualify as Gems, are poorly struck, often with mumps, and generally have substandard luster.