1852 50C MS(PCGS#6268)

The August 2013 Chicago ANA World's Fair of Money

拍卖行

Stack's Bowers

批号

4143

等级

MS65 CAC

价格

93,660

详细说明

1852 Liberty Seated Half Dollar. WB-101. MS-65 (PCGS). CAC. If Liberty Seated half dollars are your specialty, here is one of the most important offerings in the present sale -- quite a statement in view of the overall quality of the present event! The 1852 half dollar is challenging to find in any high grades and at the Gem level is rarely encountered. There is rich and colorful peach-gold toning on both sides, with flecks of blue and russet noted at the rims. The strike is bold, as the eagle's talons and all of Liberty's dress folds are sharp. Mintage for the entire year dribbled to 77,130 pieces from the Philadelphia Mint, a sharp reflection on the market changing effects of the California Gold Rush. The flood of gold coming to market had the predictable effect on the price of silver -- it rose relative to gold, so much that silver coins were soon worth a seven percent premium over the stated face value and silver coins were not spent, but melted for the profit over face value. Something had to be done, and the Act of February 21, 1853 was passed by Congress, reducing the amount of silver content in coinage on all fractional denominations, bringing their face value slightly above their silver melt content value. However, for the half dollars struck prior to this date it was too late and the vast majority ended up melted. Somehow the present coin was held aside, and through considerable care retained the Gem level of surface quality. Destined to be a highlight in any advanced collection for this piece has it all, color, surfaces and rarity. PCGS# 6268. Provenance: From the Richard Jewell Collection. PCGS Population: 3; 1 finer (Mint State-66 finest).