The June 4, 2000, Dr. Jon Kardatzke Collection Parts II & III, Sale 5
Lot 480 
1895. PCGS graded Proof 67. A vividly iridescent half dollar with a toning arc through Liberty's face, showing bright silver on the right side, and behind the arc the colors are bright blues and reds. On the back side, the toning is mostly an exquisite bright blue. Pretty.
Lot 481
1896. AU-55. Silvery white surfaces, sharp details, a nice type coin for the grade.
Lot 482
1899. EF-45. An old-time piece that must have rested for years in a wooden drawer, to take on the hard-gray color it shows. Has the details of a nearly new coin that's sharply struck, but the luster is gone. Very clean.
Lot 483
1900. AU-50. Steel gray in color, apparently cleaned and starting to retone. There is a neck nick on Liberty.
Lot 484 
1902. Proof 64. Glorious and bright golden blue iridescent toning in a halo effect on the obverse, but just covering the top half of the reverse (the lower half an elegant gray). A few tiny hairlines but very deep mirrors. This is about as pretty a Gem Proof as may be found.
Lot 485
1905. Proof 63. Pale golden blue toning, some hairlines and a few contact marks as well.
Lot 486 
1907. Proof 63. Medium gray with wild splashes of dark blue.
Lot 487
1909. PCGS graded MS-64. Satiny white luster on both sides, and without toning. Sharply impressed and nearly a gem. An important type coin.
Lot 488
1909-S. Sharpness of EF-40. Harshly cleaned but retaining lots of detail. Scarcer date.
Lot 489 
1913. Proof 64. Vividly toned to a bright golden blue halo on the obverse, while the other side is more subdued. A near-gem showing only faint lines on the face from an album slide. It's still a beauty!
Lot 490
1916. MS-60. Sharply struck with an almost full hand, attractive silvery surfaces, super-clean rims, and nearly full mint frost. For a 60, this is some coin!
Lot 491
1916-D. PCGS graded MS-64. A sparkling frosty white example.
Lot 492 
1916-D. MS-64. An exquisitely toned, Choice Uncirculated example of the first year of issue for the Walking Liberty series. Denver Mint, too. Slightly soft strike, as usual. Under magnification, a few abrasions show, and a fine scratch on the flower stems in Liberty's left arm, but these are not enough to detract significantly from the desirability of this piece. The patriotic sentiments of the day remain for us now, almost a century after this coin came out of the First World War, in the emblems and cared-for quality of this lovely half dollar.
Lot 493
1917. MS-64. Choice BU with hardly a mark but little fritzies on Liberty's leg. Original silvery luster.
Lot 494
1917-D. Mint mark on obverse. EF-40. Lovely gray-brown toning on both sides. Plucked from circulation long ago and well preserved.
Lot 495 
1918-D. PCGS graded AU-55. Choice surfaces for the grade which show few marks, even under the scrutiny of a glass. Satiny luster and well struck on Liberty, although her thumb is a bit weak. Scarce in this grade and perfect for the date collector.
Lot 496
1920. MS-60. The obverse shows lots of hairlining, but otherwise this is a nicely balanced coin with excellent luster and a fairly sharp strike. Better date. On close inspection, the surfaces are really immaculate aside from the lines--no marks worth noting and a pleasing silvery color.
Lot 497
1920. MS-60. Pleasing silvery color, very lustrous and pleasant, despite two sizable marks on the obverse, one right in the middle of Liberty's leg, the other on her breast. Quite well struck and scarce in Mint State.
Lot 498 
1921-D. PCGS graded MS-64. A really handsome example of this key date from Denver. In fact, it's so nice that, if it showed 1941 at the date, it would probably be in an MS-65 slab. But it's a '21, so they're being tough. A few minor abrasions, nothing heavy. Well struck with the hand showing almost full detail. Pale silvery color. Luster soft, as always on these. Real light iridescent hues, indicating a coin of considerable originality. All in all, if you don't require the screaming finest known, but are a true collector who appreciates rarity in a very choice coin, this is about all you could ask for.
Lot 499 
1921-D. MS-63. One of the keys to this series, always popular because of the emblematic design on each side. This is a nice coin, in fact it looks almost like a Gem at first glance, but if you hold the obverse sideways you will discover some very fine wiping lines across its center. These are nearly invisible if viewing the coin in the normal perspective. The only marks are some small abrasions, including a few on Liberty's leg. The luster is booming, the color a delightful silvery white, the rims are high and rounded and without blemish, and the strike is sharp enough that about 3/4 of Liberty's hand is detailed. This pleasing rarity should fit well into somebody's prized collection.
Lot 500 
1921-S. PCGS graded MS-63. A series of shallow album slide-lines down Liberty's leg is really all that keeps this beautiful example of the key date in the Walking Liberty series out of the 64 category. Only a few light bagmarks may be seen in the eagle's feathers, basically hidden from immediate view. The hand is about half-way struck up. The surfaces exhibit a handsome, light silvery brilliance with a hint of golden hues. A choice and very desirable example of this rarity!
Lot 501
1928-S. MS-60. Despite our number grade and a mushy strike down the centers of the coin, this is exceptionally attractive because of its booming luster and just gorgeous golden blue iridescence. Fresh as can be!
Lot 502
1929-S. AU-58. Light fritzies all over but nice luster and some pale iridescent toning on this scarce issue.
Lot 503
1933-S. AU-50. Several small scratches but this is still a lovely example, especially for an AU, with a moderately strong strike.
Lot 504
1934. MS-64. Magnification reveals some very faint lines, but this is boldly struck and handsome.
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