Feb 18-19, 2002, The Benson Collection Part 2, Sale 13

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United States Coins

Half Dollars

Capped Bust Half Dollars

Lot 896
1807. Small stars, O-113a, R-3. VF-20 Cleaned. This one has been polished long ago, but has nicely retoned with dark gray and gold around the periphery, while the centers remain untoned. As to the surfaces, they show no significant contact marks, and the rims are clean. Later die state with the cracks mentioned for the die state.
Estimated Value $100-125.
From the Benson collection and purchased from James G. Macallister on September 6, 1944 for $10.00.

Lot 897 Click on photo for enlarged version Click on photo for enlarged version
1807. Large stars, 50 over 20, O-111b, R-5. "The Bearded Goddess". PCGS graded VF-35. One of the classic rarities of the Bust half dollar series, the 50/20 reverse variety is desirable in its own right, but is especially desirable when the obverse die shows the heavy crack which appears to be a goatee on Liberty. This well placed crack long ago earned the name "Bearded Goddess" because of the unusual location connecting Liberty's chin to her chest below. This crack actually extends from her drapery up through the E in LIBERTY, including the area just before her eye. Dark gold peripheral toning with blue and sunset highlights all around. Quite a bit of luster remains, and this adds to the appeal. Minor circulation marks, but no bumps or bangs worthy of note.
Estimated Value $1,250-1,750.
From the Benson collection and purchased from Ira S. Reed in 1944 for $2.25.

Lot 898
1807. Large stars, 50 over 20, O-112, R-1. PCGS graded VF-35. This is the later die state with the crack through the base of date, and die chips on the 7. Dark blue peripheral toning with red and gold highlights, bright at the centers. Typical strike on the curls and eagle.
Estimated Value $175-250.
From the Benson collection and purchased from James G. Macallister on September 6, 1944 for $4.00.

Lot 899 Click on photo for enlarged version Click on photo for enlarged version
1808. O-102a, R-2. PCGS graded MS-64. Bright and lustrous with delicate gold toning around the periphery, and hints of blue mixed in too. Well struck from a cracked obverse die, with most details remarkably sharp. The reverse too, is satiny and lustrous. PCGS has graded 8 this high, with 10 graded higher of the date.
Estimated Value $3,750-UP.

Lot 900
1808. O-105, R-3. Fine-12. Lovely toning at the rims, smooth, even wear and a few minor handling marks.
Estimated Value $40-45.
From the Benson collection and purchased from "Chapman" June 23, 1944 for $2.25.

Lot 901
1808. O-102a, R-2. Fine-12 Cleaned. This one has been harshly cleaned with an abrasive resulting in heavy hairlines on both sides. Toned around the rims.
Estimated Value $40-45.
From the Benson collection and purchased from "Hughes" (probably pre-Bobby) July 26, 1944 for $1.75.

Lot 902
1809. Normal edge, O-105, R-2. VF-20. Dark blue and green peripheral toning. One small dig near the lower left point of the scroll. Minor weakness in the strike on both sides.
Estimated Value $60-70.
From the Benson collection and purchased from Ira S. Reed on June 3, 1944 for $1.25.

Lot 903 Click on photo for enlarged version Click on photo for enlarged version
1810. O-104a, R-3. PCGS graded MS-62. Steel gray toning on both sides highlighted by dark green and blue on the right side of the obverse and reverse. Flatly struck by the dies, with a few signs of contact on the high points. The planchet shows some minor laminations before Liberty's face. If you love toned coins, here is a nice one for your collection.
Estimated Value $1,000-1,400.
From the Benson collection and purchased from James G. Macallister in 1944 for $12.00.

Lot 904 Click on photo for enlarged version Click on photo for enlarged version
1810. O-102, R-2. PCGS graded AU-55. This coin is perfect for the grade, gorgeous toning, good luster and totally problem free.
Estimated Value $300-400.
From the Benson collection and purchased from Hughes (an early incarnation? scary thought) on July 26, 1944 for $3.00.

Lot 905 Click on photo for enlarged version Click on photo for enlarged version
1811. 11 over 10, O-101, R-1. VF-30. Lovely peripheral toning on both sides, while the centers remain untoned.
Estimated Value $100-120.
From the Benson collection and purchased from James G. Macallister on September 6, 1944 for $4.00.

Lot 906
1811. Small 8, O-105, R-3. VF-30. Pretty gold and green peripheral toning and nicely preserved aside from minor hairlines.
Estimated Value $60-70.
From the Benson collection and purchased from Ira S. Reed for $1.40.

Lot 907
1811. Large 8, O-104, R-1. EF-40. Cleaned long ago (as were virtually all of these) but now toned with blue and gold peripheral hues. Moderate hairlines, as always seen on these Bust half dollars.
Estimated Value $100-115.
From the Benson collection and purchased from Chapman on June 24, 1944 for $4.00.

Lot 908
1812. 2 over 1, small 8, O-102, R-2. VF-35. Silvery gray at the centers, with darker gold around the periphery.
Estimated Value $50-60.
From the Benson collection and purchased from James G. Macallister on September 6, 1944 for $5.00.

Lot 909 Click on photo for enlarged version Click on photo for enlarged version
1812. Normal date, O-105a, R-2. MS-63. Gunmetal gray throughout, with clean surfaces for the grade. Note the interesting die crack which the lower loop of 8, top of the second 1, through Liberty's hair, ear, curling out through the sixth star. A crack connects the first seven stars to the bust and date. Nice luster beneath the toning. The edge lettering is partially crushed and indistinct, other areas clear.
Estimated Value $1,100-1,300.

Lot 910
1812. O-103, R-1. PCGS graded EF-45. Deep gold toning on both sides and quite lovely overall. We note some stray scratches and a small knock above Liberty's cap, and another left of the lowest pair of olive leaves.
Estimated Value $100-125.
From the Benson collection and purchased from Ira S. Reed on June 3, 1944 for $1.50.

Lot 911
1812. O-110a, R-1 and 1813 O-113, R-2. The 1812 grades EF-45 but has reverse damage, the 1813 grades VF-30, but was cleaned. The 1812 shows damage around and above the denomination and this area is a bit porous. The 1813 has rather aggressive hairlines. Lot of 2 coins.
Estimated Value $100-125.
From the Benson collection and purchased from Ira S. Reed on June 3, 1944 for $1.50 each.

Lot 912 Click on photo for enlarged version Click on photo for enlarged version
1813. O-107a, R-1. PCGS graded MS-64. Stunning original steel gray and blue toning on this lustrous mint state example. Nearly perfect surfaces too, which is remarkable for a coin of the early period of the bust half dollars. Surprisingly well struck by shattered dies, both the obverse and reverse show several meandering die cracks on both sides. This one even has dentils clashed in Liberty's cap and field above to the right, and the dies must not have been well aligned to cause this. PCGS has graded just 8 this high, with a single coin graded higher of the date, making this one of the very best to survive.
Estimated Value $3,200-3,700.

Lot 913 Click on photo for enlarged version Click on photo for enlarged version
1813 O-106A, R-2. NGC graded MS-62. A rare early date in mint state condition, this one has dark blue around the rim, and gunmetal silver for the balance. Well struck by clashed and cracked dies at the centers, with slight weakness on the reverse opposite Liberty's bust. An impressive example of this variety, which is probably at the low end of the Condition Census for the die pairing. Clean surfaces that show minor handling ticks, none of any consequence.
Estimated Value $1,250-1,750.

Lot 914 Click on photo for enlarged version Click on photo for enlarged version
1814. 4 over 3, O-101a, R-2. PCGS graded AU-50. Glorious luster and nicely preserved throughout, with dark gold toning at the edge, and bright centers. A later die state with several minor cracks, and strongly clashed dies on both sides.
Estimated Value $500-600.
From the Benson collection and purchased from French's on July 24, 1944 for $4.00.

Lot 915 Click on photo for enlarged version Click on photo for enlarged version
1814. O-104a, R-1. EF-40. Cleaned long ago with the usual minor hairlines in the fields and on the devices, but now toned with radiant gold and blue shades around the periphery.
Estimated Value $100-125.
From the Benson collection and purchased from Ira S. Reed on June 3, 1944 for $1.50.

Lot 916 Click on photo for enlarged version Click on photo for enlarged version
1815. 5 over 2, O-101, R-2. PCGS graded EF-45. This is actually a middle die state, with the reverse starting to crack, and strong clash marks are noted on the reverse. Half dollar production slowed drastically during the 1812-1815 period as the American public and Philadelphia Mint were distracted with the War of 1812. By 1814 the British had invaded and burned much of Washington D.C. so all gold and silver was hoarded and not turned over to the Mint for coinage. Thus, only 47,150 half dollars were struck in 1815, using one pair of dies, the obverse having been dated 1812 and overdated when it was finally used. The Mint delivered the 1815 half dollars on January 10, 1816, the day before the Mint fire which destroyed the rolling mills thus ending gold and silver coinage for many months.
We note delightful hues of blue, yellow and gold around the obverse, bright at the center, on the reverse the toning is more yellow, with an irregular shaped area on the lower reverse. Clean surfaces and highly appealing for this rare date. Color photo.
Estimated Value $2,000-2,500.
From the Benson collection and purchased from Ira S. Reed on June 3, 1944 for $16.00.

Lot 917
1817. 7 over 3, O-101, R-3. PCGS graded VF-25. Steel gray in the fields, lighter on the devices. Average surfaces for the grade.
Estimated Value $250-300.
From the Benson collection and purchased from James G. Macallister on September 6, 1944 for $5.00.

Lot 918
1817. Dated 181.7, O-103, R-2. Fine-15. Bright at the centers and untoned, the periphery is bathed in deep blue and gold surrounding. Certainly cleaned long ago, but nicely recovered.
Estimated Value $35-45.
From the Benson collection and purchased from James G. Macallister on April 4, 1945 for $7.50.

Near Gem 1817 Capped Bust Half

Lot 919 Click on photo for enlarged version Click on photo for enlarged version
1817. O-110, R-2. PCGS graded MS-64. One of the highlights from the Benson collection, this stunning blue and gray toned boasts excellent surfaces and abundant eye appeal. Fully struck on the stars and eagle, with minor weakness noted on just a few of the obverse curls. Examination will note very few signs of contact, and the fields and face of Liberty are exceptional, even for this grade. Certainly one of the finest of this variety, as well as for the entire date. PCGS has graded 5 this high, with just 3 graded higher. Color photo.
Estimated Value $2,000-2,500.
From the Benson collection and purchased from Ira S. Reed in 1944 for $1.50.

Lot 920
1817. O-110, R-2. EF-40. Struck from clashed dies, with outlines of the central elements on the opposing die. Silver white at the centers, deep blue and gold at the rims. Problem free, save for a minor cleaning decades ago.
Estimated Value $100-125.
From the Benson collection and purchased from Chapman on June 24, 1944 for $2.00.

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