Feb. 24-25, 2003, The Benson Collection Part 3, Sale 17

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Half Dimes

Flowing Hair Half Dimes

Lot 288      1794. VF-20. Although we note some wear about the obverse right side rims as to suggest a slightly lower grade, there is enough hair detail on Liberty to justify the assigned grade. Evenly struck on a problem free planchet with no serious marks or other distractions of any kind. Lightly toned and absolutely original with just some honest wear mostly evenly distributed on both sides. Always in great demand as a nation's first half dime.
Estimated Value $2,200-2,400.
 

Splendiferous 1795 Flowing Hair Half Dime
Lot 289      1795. LM-10, V-4, R-3. PCGS graded MS-63. Deep gray toning and weakly struck, especially so on the reverse as the upper eagle's head and right wing top are very shallow. Hints of blue around the periphery, with lighter gray at the center. A scarce type coin that is hard to locate in mint state grades.
Estimated Value $6,000-7,000.
 

Draped Bust Half Dimes

Lot 290      1797. 15 stars. EF-40. Light mottled multicolor light toning conceals some faint to moderate scratches about the head of Liberty. We also note a minor planchet flaw from star 8 to the ribbon. As always seen, the central design elements are weakly struck, especially the fine feather details on the eagle; however, this example is quite appealing due to the lack of wear and does not exhibit the strong clashing of dies that is often encountered on this variety. Always in strong demand as the draped bust small eagle coins were struck in just two years, and this type has long been one of the more difficult coins to locate in high grade.
Estimated Value $3,500-4,000.
 
Lot 291      1800. "LIBEKTY" error. EF-45. Broken top to R suggesting a K. Recut date. Mostly evenly struck, except about portions of the denticles on both side with the usual die flaw on the reverse below the eagle's beak. We note that the planchet exhibits a "U" shaped area across a portion of the obverse from the rims thru the neck of Liberty of light porosity, this was probably a result of a foreign substance present during striking. A lovely high grade example exhibiting light natural cabinet toning that greatly adds to this coin's eye appeal.
Estimated Value $4,000-4,500.
 

Capped Bust Half Dimes

Lot 292      1829, V-2. NGC graded MS-64. Charcoal silver and gold toning on both sides, with some luster peeking through in the fields. A typical strike with slight weakness on the high points, and scattered ticks in the fields which must have just kept this one from the gem class.
Estimated Value $700-800.
 
Lot 293      1830 V-3. NGC graded MS-64. Light gold toning over strong luster.
Estimated Value $800-900.
 
Lot 294      1833. NGC graded MS-65. Wide even date. Well struck and very lustrous with the stars exhibiting full separation. Beautifully toned with the obverse featuring hues of steel blue while the reverse boasts of russet and golds. An exceptional example for a date or type set.
Estimated Value $1,750-2,000.
 
Lot 295      1834, LM-1, V-5, R-2. This is the 3 over inverted 3 variety. PCGS graded MS-66 Premium Quality. Stark white in color with excellent luster throughout. The strike is sharp, with each star and curl showing complete detail. The diagnostic 3 over inverted 3 is quite sharp with a glass, and we also note the 8 has the lower loop filled, which is common on this die variety. Truly exceptional quality for the specialist or type collector. One of the best available not only of the date, but of the entire type, and PCGS in their Population Report show 13 graded this high, with 10 above as MS-67 and a single coin at the top as MS-68. Rare thus.
Estimated Value $2,500-UP.
 
Lot 296      1836. Large 5¢, LM-6, V-3, R-3. PCGS graded MS-65. A frosty and bright example of this die pairing. The obverse die shows wear before Liberty's face, but is well struck. As noted in the Logan/McCloskey reference, "mint state examples of this die marriage are rare". Lovely in every regard.
Estimated Value $1,700-2,000.
 

Liberty Seated Half Dimes

Lot 297      1837. No stars. NGC graded MS-66. Well struck, frosty and totally white. Popular type coin amd gems such as this are most difficult to obtain.
Estimated Value $2,800-3,100.
 
Lot 298      1838. Stars, no drapery. NGC graded MS-65. A nicely struck example of the "no drapery" type with light handling marks well concealed by the mottled deep turquoise and pale violet toning.
Estimated Value $1,400-1,600.
 
Lot 299      1838. Small stars. NGC graded MS-65. A well struck frosty mint specimen with a touch of steel tone just starting to form.
Estimated Value $2,900-3,200.
 
Lot 300      1841. NGC graded MS-66. Deep gunmetal blue toning on both sides with lighter gold traces at the periphery. Boldly struck throughout, with a sharp head on Liberty and all the surrounding stars full to the center point. The reverse die shows minor clash marks. NGC has graded only 5 this high, with a scant 3 higher, all MS-67 above, for this date.
Estimated Value $1,400-1,600.
 

1842-O Liberty Seated Half Dime
Lot 301      1842-O. MS-65. A truly rare issue in high grade, especially so when found this nice! The surfaces are superb and offer a pleasing color arrangement sunset yellow and gold changing over to blue ever so slightly. Not a bad strike for this early New Orleans issue, but we do note that Liberty's head lacks the finer definition, as well as the opposing area on the reverse wreath. A fantastic opportunity for the specialist in these early New Orleans half dimes. Color photo.
Estimated Value $9,000-10,000.
 
Lot 302      1845, Breen-3039, double date. PCGS graded MS-63. Gorgeous gold and blue toning on both sides with excellent luster as well. Housed in an older green insert PCGS holder. Fully struck throughout, and the recut date is visible with a glass.
Estimated Value $350-400.
 

1850 Liberty Seated Half Dime
Lot 303      1850. Proof 65++. Gorgeous toning on this early proof of deep blue and yellow hues, with iridescent green as well. Fully struck and very well preserved.
Estimated Value $10,000-UP.
 
Lot 304      1854-O Arrows. PCGS graded MS-65. Lightly toned on the obverse with a grayish hue over strong luster. A nice strike and very rare this fine.
Estimated Value $3,000-3,500.
 
Lot 305      1856. NGC graded MS-66. Golden gray in color and pleasing to the eye. The strike is average, with all but a few of the stars sharp to the very center point, but the dentils around the rims are very mushy, typical of the period. Liberty is well struck although. NGC has graded 31 this high, with just 2 higher.
Estimated Value $1,300-1,500.
 
Lot 306      1856-O. NGC graded MS-66. Exceptional rose gold and blue toning on both sides, and a bold strike too, with Liberty's head sharp. Surfaces that show virtually no signs of handling, and rare this nice. Color photo.
Estimated Value $3,500-4,000.
 
Lot 307      1856-O. NGC graded MS-65. Antique gray and deep blue toning on both sides. A sharply impressed coin that boasts clean surfaces and overall appeal.
Estimated Value $1,250-1,500.
 

1858 Liberty Seated Half Dime
Lot 308      1858. NGC graded Proof 66. A splendid little gem with gorgeous sunset toning featuring lilac and electric blue about the obverse borders and predominantly turquoise iridescence on the reverse. According to Breen, only about 80 proofs have survived of which this little treasure is amongst the finest.
Estimated Value $4,000-UP.
 
Lot 309      1859. NGC graded Proof 66. An exquisite little gem, sharpness throughout, with surfaces of violet, blue and rose iridescence. Popular for the Stars on Obverse design of which approximately 800 or so proofs were made. One of only 17 reported in this grade with 4 higher, all by one point.
Estimated Value $5,000-5,500.
 
Lot 310      1859. NGC graded Proof 63. Toned with deep blue and rose gold on the obverse, while the reverse is plain hazy silver in color. One minor planchet flaw below the I of DIME in the field. An impressive early proof example.
Estimated Value $900-1,000.
 
Lot 311      1860. NGC graded MS-66. Blast white and quite lustrous. A scarce date this nice, and worth a decent bid. The dies show light clash marks, and no surface marks to disturb the luster.
Estimated Value $900-1,000.
 

Transitional 1860 Liberty Seated Half Dime in Gem
Lot 312      1860. Obverse of 1859, reverse of 1860. NGC graded MS-66. The coin without a country, and what a beautiful coin it is! Deep mottled blue, gray and green toning on both the obverse and reverse. Very sharp in the strike, with needle sharp stars save for one on the right side, and sharp elsewhere too. Always in demand, especially so this nice. Color photo.
Estimated Value $7,000-UP.
 
Lot 313      1861, 1 over 0. NGC graded MS-65. An outstanding example of this rare overdate. Toned with deep blue and gold over strong luster, and the strike is typical, with weakness on the upper left wreath on the reverse. NGC has graded 6 this high, with just a single coin graded higher of the overdate version.
Estimated Value $2,500-3,000.
 
Lot 314      1864. NGC graded MS-64 Premium Quality. Totally white in color and very lustrous. Struck from clashed dies as are most of this date, and we note this one employed the old 1863 reverse with the minor die crack from the rim to wreath at about 3:30. Sharply struck on the obverse and reverse, save for a small portion of the upper left wreath. Both dies show clash marks as usual. Free of most signs of contact, and all we can see are very faint hairlines which don't detract measurably. At a minimum this coin is at the high end of the grade assigned. The reported mintage of 48,000 apparently included many dated 1863, and Breen estimates the number to survive to be between 80 and 100 specimens, which include a group of about 20 uncirculated coins ("many cleaned") as noted in his Encyclopedia. NGC has graded 5 this high, with 10 graded as MS-65 above and 2 at the top as MS-67.
Estimated Value $1,000-1,250.
 
Lot 315      1864-S. MS-65++. Light golden gray toning with flecks of darker gold on the obverse. The surfaces are a delight to behold, and this one came to us from an old time collection. Expect strong competition to capture this little jewel.
Estimated Value $3,500-UP.
 
Lot 316      1870. PCGS graded Proof 66. Gorgeous bluish rose toning on both sides and pristine surfaces as well. A superb coin in one of the older green insert holders.
Estimated Value $1,500-1,700.
 
Lot 317      1870. PCGS graded Proof 66. Toned with resplendent deep blue on both sides with vibrant orange-gold at the rims, but blue rules the day for the balance. Rare this nice, PCGS has graded only 9 this high, with 2 higher and one other as a Deep Cameo in the PR-66 grade. Fully struck and well preserved, and we note a few microscopic flakes from the planchet preparation process. If you love beautifully toned coins, this is one you'll want to secure if you can. Color photo.
Estimated Value $1,500-UP.
 
Lot 318      A lot of miscellaneous silver US coins. Lot of 5 coins. This lot includes 1872 Seated half dime XF-45, 1837 Bust dime, JR-4 XF-45, 1875-S Twenty cent piece VG-8, 1832 Bust quarter F-15 and 1853 Seated quarter with Arrows and Rays VF-20. A nice lot for the collector. Lot of 5 coins.
Estimated Value $200-UP.