The June 4, 2000, Dr. Jon Kardatzke Collection Parts II & III, Sale 5
Lot 455
1837, 1838 and 1839 Reeded Edge. The 1837 grades VG-8, cleaned; the 1838 VF-30 and the 1839 G-4. Lot of 3 coins.
Lot 456
1839 with drapery. VF-25. Medium steel-gray in color and original.
Lot 457 
1840. Small letters. NGC graded MS-63. Quite a scarce early date in this series. The grade is right on the money. There's a group of abrasions just above the denomination, but otherwise this coin is unusually pleasing. Attractively toned a light silvery gray, evenly distributed, and fairly well struck.
Lot 458
1840. Small letters. VF-30. A few light scratches above the date, and with a few edge knocks. Decent overall.
Lot 459
1843, 1843-O, 1844-O, 1845-O, 1847-O, 1853 Arrows & Rays (2 pieces), 1854-O, 1855 and 1856. G-4 to Very Good 8. An interesting lot of Seated half dollars, most are original but a few are cleaned. Lot of 10 coins.
Lot 460 
1848-O. MS-60. Light hairlines from an old cleaning, but the surfaces are largely free from abuse and the color is a pleasing silvery gold pastel look. Sharply struck overall, with some curious long diebreaks on reverse. Pleasant enough for the grade.
Lot 461
1849-O. AU-55. Russet gold color and well struck. Nice for an AU!
Lot 462 
1853-O. Arrows and rays. AU-55. Light silvery colored surfaces, nicely struck. A classic representing the furious days of fluctuations in the values and ratios between gold, silver and "currency" in the emerging banking system. A great collector's coin.
Lot 463 
1857. PCGS graded MS-65. Some tiny fritzies on the obverse, here and there, but this is a Gem Unc. with an above-average strike and good color. The obverse is mostly bright silver with some pale greenish blue hues. The reverse exhibits evenly distributed, light golden blue iridescence.
Lot 464
1858-S. AU-55. Dark gray with a couple of minor abrasions on the obverse. Sharply struck and scarce so nice.
Lot 465
1859-O. AU-55. Dark gray but well struck. Remarkably clean surfaces.
Lot 466
1861. EF-40. A coin with some luster and a good strike, but there are some scratches right beside Liberty's raised arm, a couple of field scratches and a couple of gouges. It's really an AU but we've net-graded it.
Lot 467
1861-O. EF-45. Bluish gray (probably induced) toning, decent strike, some luster in evidence.
Lot 468
1861-O. EF-45. Exceptionally pleasant for the grade. Medium gray toning.
Lot 469
1870. AU-50. Light hairlines on grayish blue surfaces, some luster peeking through the color.
Lot 470
1873. No arrows, closed 3. Proof 60. Rose gold toning on both sides, but the fields are minutely hairlined. Excellent contrast between the deep watery fields and the frosted devices. Only 600 proofs struck.
Lot 471
1875. MS-60. Semi-prooflike fields and very well struck. Light silvery white surfaces, flashy and appealing. Somebody gonna love this one!
Lot 472
1876-CC. EF-40. Dark original toning and choice for the grade. With a small die lump on the upper curve of the R in AMERICA and machine doubling on some of the reverse peripheral lettering. Centennial "CC" date.
Lot 473 
1879. PCGS graded MS-65. An unusually flashy Gem BU, with both sides outlined in a purplish blue iridescent toning that looks like something off a painter's palette. Boldly struck, immaculate, and stunning in its eye appeal. Of the 4,800 original business strikes (coins made for commerce, not for collecting) of this year, here is one of the very best of the survivors. Bid for it as if it were a cultural treasure--for, in fact, it is!.
Lot 474 
1880. NGC graded Proof 66. Some subtle flaws on Liberty, but the color and overall quality here is excellent. Lilac gray on the reverse, Liberty mostly white and surrounded by lilac and gold iridescent toning, very light, very pretty. We can't find any hairlines.
Lot 475
1882. Proof 55. Low-mintage date and expensive in MS, so here's a welcomed alternative--a pleasing, slightly impaired Proof. Hairlines obscure the mirrors, but plenty of detail here!
Lot 476 
1885. PCGS graded Proof 67. Pale golden lilac and blue iridescent toning lends extra visual appeal to this Superb Gem Proof half dollar, one of the lower mintage dates of the series--just 5,200 were made for commerce, and an additional 930 Proofs, of which this one must be among the finest. It's the only 67 graded by PCGS, with none better.
Lot 477
Seated Halves group. The following dates and grades are included: 1857 VF-20; 1858-O F-15; 1860-O damaged (perhaps a Confederate button with the reverse showing solder at the center); 1861 G-4; 1862-S whizzed VF-30; 1863-S F-12; 1865-S EF-40 cleaned; 1868-S G-4; 1871 F-12 and 1871-S VG-8. Lot of 10 coins.
Lot 478
Seated Halves mixed lot. The following dates are included: 1872 EF-40 scratched; 1873 Arrows, AG-3; 1875 F-12 scratched; 1875-S F-12 scratched; 1875-S G-4; 1876 damaged by dents; 1876 G-4; 1877 VG-10; 1878 G-4 and 1891 VF-25. Lot of 9 coins.
Lot 479
1893-S. VF-30. Somber gray toning from a past cleaning, but still a scarce and desirable coin. Only 740,000 were struck, most of which circulated down to very low grades. One for the date collector who appreciates rarity and value. Hints of luster in the lettering, and retoned to a steel gray color.
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