1926 $2.50 Sesquicentennial MS66 认证号44990616, PCGS号7466

Captivating premium Gem surfaces are smooth and inviting with eye appeal to spare. Bathed in a bold blend of satiny mint luster and vivid rose-gold patina, this is an exceptional coin that borders on pristine for the issue. Through the Act of March 3, 1925, Congress authorized the Mint to produce 200,000 quarter eagles and 1,000,000 half dollars of this commemorative, and the Philadelphia Mint struck these coins during May and June of 1926. (Additional examples of both denominations were produced for assay purposes.) These mintage figures proved wildly optimistic, with 154,207 quarter eagles and 859,408 half dollars eventually being melted as unsold. The resultant net mintage is 46,019 and 141,120 pieces, respectively (totals include 226 and 528 assay coins). In today's market, both Sesquicentennial issues are regarded as conditionally challenging, upper end Gems such as this rare and eagerly sought by advanced collectors.

Ron Guth

In 1926, the U.S. celebrated the 150th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence by issuing two commemorative coins, a half dollar and a $2.50 gold piece.  The front of the $2.50 gold piece features a full-length image of Liberty holding a torch in her outstretched right arm and an unfurling scroll in the other.  The back of the coin is a frontal view of Independence Hall, where the delegates met and signed the document. 

The $2.50 Sesqui has the largest mintage of any early gold commemorative by far, apparently in anticipation of strong collector demand.  PCGS alone has certified over 11,000 examples, representing almost a fourth of the total mintage.  The most common grade is MS64, followed by MS63, then MS65.  MS66 examples are scarce, but not rare, the result of the low relief design and the open, vulnerable devices.  No MS67 examples are known yet, and if such a high-grade piece were to hit the market, the value would be astonishing.