1840 H10C No Drapery MS(PCGS#4321)

August 2020 U.S. Coins Auction

拍卖行

Stack's Bowers

批号

2538

等级

MS66

价格

25,009

详细说明

1840 Liberty Seated Half Dime. No Drapery. V-2. MS-66 (PCGS). CAC. Highly desirable premium Gem Mint State quality for this brief and eagerly sought design type from the early Liberty Seated half dime series. Brilliant apart from the lightest champagne-gold iridescence, both sides allow full appreciation of intense satin to softly frosted luster. Fully struck, expertly preserved, and a delight to behold. Christian Gobrecht's interpretation of the Titian Peale/Thomas Sully Liberty Seated design was first used for the half dime in 1837, but would see modification through its life. The first change came in 1838 when 13 stars were added to the obverse. Then in 1840 the obverse was once again modified, this time (probably) by Robert Ball Hughes who most notably added an additional fold to Liberty's gown at her left elbow, redesigned the rock upon which she is seated, and adjusted the shield to be oriented straight up and down. Just how successful these changes are in terms of aesthetics may be disputed, but in any case they became standard going forward. Of all the half dimes struck in 1840, 1,034,000 circulation strikes bear the original No Drapery design, three times as many as Hughes' modified obverse with drapery. This issue is notable for the die cracks of varying intensity that are often present, although none are seen on the coin offered here. The 1840 No Drapery half dime is available in all circulated grades, and is not a great challenge, even in Choice Mint State. At and above the Gem level, however, this issue becomes progressively more difficult to locate. The remarkable eye appeal of the Henry Collection specimen enhances its appeal and serves to highlight many of the fine nuances of the early Liberty Seated design. A jewel of a coin that is sure to please. The obverse die of the 1840 Valentine-2 pairing is identifiable by a slight downward slant of the date from left to right. Daniel W. Valentine, in his 1931 reference on half dimes, states that the date is medium spaced, which Breen expanded upon later to note that the digits 18 are a bit more widely spaced than the digits 840. Close inspection of the reverse with a loupe reveals several faint die lines polish lines around the letters OF AMER in the legend, as well as a faint clash mark at the letters ME in DIME. Provenance: From the Henry Collection of Liberty Seated Half Dimes. PCGS Population: 16; 19 finer (MS-68 finest). PCGS# 4321. NGC ID: 232U. Click here for certification details from PCGS.