Oct 1-2, 2001, The George Mouhtouris Collection, Sale 11
Lot 1025
1831 O-102. MS-63. This coin has loads of wild toning on the obverse and reverse. The coin has some hidden streaks running parallel through the obverse, and we're not sure of the
origin, or if they were mint caused or not. Inspection recommended, as always. Good luster and the reverse is normal.
Estimated Value $750-1,000.
Lot 1026
1831 O-116, R-3. AU-55. A scarce coin in this grade, this one just nudges the bottom of the condition census. Frosty and white in color with a ring of gold around the periphery.
Estimated Value $200-250.
Lot 1027
1832, O-118. ANACS graded AU-50. Rubbed on the high points of the design to fresher silver colors, while the surrounding fields and devices are toned. Hairlines as always, and with an
average strike, and some luster.
Estimated Value $140-180.
Lot 1028
1832. Large letters, O-101a, R-2. AU-55. This is the only Large Letters reverse die used in 1832, and it is easily identifable by a large die break from the wing down to the eagle's
tail. Frosty luster and light gold toning around the edges.
Estimated Value $200-250.
Lot 1029
1832. Large letters, O-101 and 1832 O-102a. The first grades EF-40 and the second grades AU-53. Nice quality on each. Lot of 2 coins.
Estimated Value $225-300.
Lot 1030
1833, O-110, R-2. NGC graded MS-62. Beautiful light blue toning over lustrous fields fading to gold. Minor hairlines in the fields, as always. Sharp at the centers, but weak beneath the
date on the dentils, as struck. A good value in todays market.
Estimated Value $500-750.
Lot 1031
1833 O-112, R-2. AU-50. This one has been lightly polished then retoned to a dark blue and gold. Beneath the colorful shades, hairlines have taken up residence. A later die state with
stars and letters drawn towards the edge on both sides. One that could be improved by people expert in such matters.
Estimated Value $150-200.
Lot 1032
1834. Large date and letters, O-103, R-2. NGC graded MS-61. Colorful tones of red, blue and green around the periphery, and nicely struck too. Minor hairlines and a hidden scratch on
Liberty's bust apparently account for the moderate grade.
Estimated Value $300-350.
Lot 1033
1834. Large date and letters, O-103 and 1834 Small date, O-111. Both grade EF-45. The first is lustrous and nice for the grade, with gray toning and clean surfaces, the second has been
lightly cleaned and nicely retoned with gold around the rims. Lot of 2 coins.
Estimated Value $150-200.
Lot 1034
1834. Large date, small letters, O-107, R-1. AU-55. Strong mint luster and generally bright, with a touch of gold around the edges. Minor hairlines and circulation ticks, but much less
than usual, keeping this at the higher end for the collector who loves nice surfaces. An appealing example.
Estimated Value $200-250.
Lot 1035
1834. Large date, small letters, O-106, R-1. AU-50. Good luster despite a minor cleaning in the past, and mostly bright silver with a touch of gold starting to form. Sharp on Liberty's
curls, but a few stars are weak. The edge lettering is a bit blundered.
Estimated Value $150-200.
Lot 1036
1835, O-107, R-1. AU-53. Cleaned with resulting hairlines as usual, and nicely retoned with deep gold to blue around the edges. Sharply struck and with clean rims and only minor
circulation marks. A common variety.
Estimated Value $175-200.
Lot 1037
1836. Lettered edge, O-108-a, R-2. AU-50. This one has been cleaned, with resulting hairlines throughout, with no signs of toning starting to form. Some luster near the stars and
devices, and nicely struck for this later die state. This is the popular 1836, 8 over 3 variety, where the die engraver punched in the 3 before realizing he should have used the 8. Oh well, what's 5 centuries? .
Estimated Value $200-250.
Lot 1038
1836. Lettered edge, O-101, R-1. AU-50. Lightly cleaned and starting to retone with splashes of gold around the peripheries, but mostly bright silver. Sharply struck at the centers, and
with clean rims and average surfaces. The edge lettering is blundered.
Estimated Value $150-200.
Lot 1039
1836. Lettered edge, 50 over 00, O-116, R-2. Sharpness of AU-50 but buffed. A scarce and popular variety, but this coin has been buffed to remove corrosion or some other surface marks
on both sides. Now a touch dull and starting to retone. Still nicely struck, and a coin that doesn't appear to have problems to the naked eye.
Estimated Value $200-300.
Lot 1040
1836. Reeded edge. VF-25. A beautiful example of this scarce coin, the reported mintage was 1,200 pieces, and most circulated to lower grades. Here we note lovely steel gray tones with
multicolored hues near the devices. Average handling marks for the grade, with nice rims that show no distracting bumps. If you have been searching for a select example of this date, then take a look at this one.
Estimated Value $1,000-1,200.
Lot 1041
1837 Reeded edge. SEGS graded MS-63 Reverse Scratch/Dig ("Star"). Here is a special coin. First of all, this is a "Star" SEGS holder, which means there are problems, and when carefully
examined you can locate a pair of drill marks on the eagle, one in left wing near the shield, and a small one in the shield. In addition, there are a couple of shallow scratches extending from either wing. On the obverse, the coin is bright and
untoned, with good luster and surfaces, save for the usual trivial hairlines. Weakly struck at the top of the head and on a few stars, and at the corresponding section of the reverse. Better than we make it sound, so inspection is recommended.
Estimated Value $500-750.
Lot 1042
1837 Reeded edge. PCGS graded AU-53. Mint fresh luster in the fields and starting to tone with gold around the edge. Boldly struck by the new steam press, and a few minor tick are
present from limited circulation.
Estimated Value $200-250.
Lot 1043
1837 Reeded edge. AU-50. Light silvery gray in color with some luster in the fields. Minor hairlines and handling marks, but well struck and quite pleasing for the grade. The inverted G
was used for the C in AMERICA and this feature is strong on this particular coin. It is curious that this series has been orphaned by many collectors, variety collectors purchase Capped Bust half dollars up until 1836 when the steam press was
introduced and the edge device became reeded instead of lettered. The Seated half dollar collectors begin with 1839 when the design changed again. Thus, these Reeded Edge half dollars sort of fall through the cracks. Many varieties are represented
and Jules Reiver published an excellent variety study of these Reeded Edge half dollars back in 1988 or so. This is one of the more popular varieties, and one that is hard to find in high grade.
Estimated Value $300-400.
Lot 1044
1837 Reeded edge. EF-45. Lovely gold toning and luster in the fields, boldly struck by the dies and well preserved by time and collectors.
Estimated Value $75-100.
Lot 1045
1837 and 1838 Reeded edge half dollars. Both grade EF-45. The 1837 has a minor rim mark at the upper left of the obverse, but nice color and surfaces otherwise, and the 1838 is nice for
the grade, with steel gray toning and interesting die cracks on both sides. Lot of 2 coins.
Estimated Value $200-300.
Lot 1046
1839 Reeded edge. AU-50. This coin may have been lightly polished, and the surfaces show hairlines on both sides. Excellent curls on Liberty, and the coin retains some mint flash and
has gold toning around the rims. As with most of the steam press coinage (post 1836), the strike is sharp.
Estimated Value $200-300.
Lot 1047
1839 Reeded edge. EF-40. This one has been cleaned and retoned nicely. Some luster near the stars and devices.
Estimated Value $90-100.
Lot 1048
1839-O. MS-60+. This coin has been cleaned and retoned to a dark gray, but luster still shines through from the fields. We note hairlines under the toning. Well struck by the dies, with
full stars and curls on Liberty. As usual, there are encircling die cracks on the obverse, more so through the reverse legends.
Estimated Value $2,000-UP.
Lot 1049
1839-O. EF-45. Lightly cleaned long ago and now a steel gray in color. Well struck, with the big Mintmark placed above the date, making this an excellent choice for the type collector.
Nice rims and surfaces, aside from the usual trivial hairlines.
Estimated Value $500-600.
Lot 1050
A small group of Bust and Seated halves. The following are included: 1827/6 Fine, scratch; 1834 Very Fine; 1837 VG scratch; 1839 Bust, Fine and 1843 Extremely Fine. Lot of 5 coins.
Estimated Value $170-190.