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

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Commemorative Silver Coins

Lot 1075      1925. Norse American Thick Medal. PCGS graded MS-65. Lightly toned.
Estimated Value $100-120.
 
Lot 1076      1925. Norse American Thin Medal. ANACS graded MS-63. Lightly toned.
Estimated Value $150-175.
 
Lot 1077      1893 Isabella Quarter Dollar. NGC graded MS-64. Bright sunset gold toning on the obverse, with areas of iridescent green intermixed on Queen Isabella. The reverse has mottled gold toning over strong luster. Excellent surfaces and appeal for the grade.
Estimated Value $800-UP.
 
Lot 1078      1893 Isabella Quarter Dollar. NGC graded MS-64. Bright white luster on both sides, and ringed with the appropriate level of gold toning at the rims on both sides. Just a couple of ticks and lines from full gem, and sharply struck.
Estimated Value $625-675.
 
Lot 1079      1893 Isabella Quarter Dollar. NGC graded MS-63. Great toning of blue and gold on both sides, but a few ticks from a higher grade.
Estimated Value $500-550.
 
Lot 1080      1893 Isabella Quarter Dollar. EF-45. Lovely medium gray toning on both sides.
Estimated Value $250-300.
 
Lot 1081      1921 Alabama Half Dollar, with 2 x 2. NGC graded MS-66. Totally white and fresh, with abundant luster. Sharp and well preserved.
Estimated Value $3,400-3,700.
 
Lot 1082      1936 Albany Half Dollar. PCGS graded MS-66. A lovely gem example that boasts undiminished luster and gorgeous iridescent tab toning on the reverse.
Estimated Value $400-450.
 
Lot 1083      1937 Antietam Half Dollar. PCGS graded MS-65. A splendid coin that has tab toning on the obverse, with deep gold around the rim and flecks of bright green as well, the reverse similar with more green and fully brilliant on the bridge.
Estimated Value $500-550.
 
Lot 1084      1937 Antietam Half Dollar. NGC graded MS-65. Tab gold toning at the periphery, with lighter silver at the centers. A nice gem.
Estimated Value $500-550.
 
Lot 1085      1935-D Arkansas Half Dollar. NGC graded MS-66. Satiny and bright, with excellent luster and a nice strike too.
Estimated Value $400-450.
 
Lot 1086      1935-D Arkansas Half Dollar. NGC graded MS-64. This one has pretty golden to slightly iridescent toning.
Estimated Value $80-100.
 
Lot 1087      1939-P,D,S Arkansas Half Dollar Set. Lot of 3 coins. These are all NGC graded as follows: P Mint MS-64; D Mint MS-65, and the S Mint MS-64. A premium quality set. Each shows irregular gold toning over luster, and the coins are well matched and almost certainly an original set stored for decades in the original paper holder. Lot of 3 coins.
Estimated Value $800-1,000.
 
Lot 1088      1936-S Bay Bridge Half Dollar. MS-60 +. Bright and untoned.
Estimated Value $70-80.
 
Lot 1089      1935 Boone Half Dollar. Small 1934 on reverse. NGC graded MS-66. Blazing white on the obverse with just a hint of color starting to form on both sides. One small planchet defect on the upper obverse rim.
Estimated Value $240-260.
 
Lot 1090      1892 Columbian Half Dollar. NGC graded MS-66. A splendid example that will be contested among bidders for its beautiful original toning. The obverse boasts of a blending of dark violets while the reverse exhibits lighter iridescent tones.
Estimated Value $800-900.
 
Lot 1091      1893 Columbian Half Dollar. NGC graded MS-64 Prooflike. This must have been an early strike, as the fields are prooflike. Deep blue and reddish gold in color, with the toning evenly distributed over both the obverse and reverse. Faint hairlines and minor ticks from a higher grade. Highly appealing for the grade.
Estimated Value $250-UP.
 
Lot 1092      1936 Delaware Half Dollar. PCGS graded MS-67. Snowy white in color and with full, blazing luster. Not a trace of toning to be found, even at the rims. Well struck as well, and extremely clean surfaces for the issue. PCGS has graded 45 this high, and importantly, none higher! A scarce coin this nice.
Estimated Value $1,700-1,900.
 
Lot 1093      1936 Delaware Half Dollar. NGC graded MS-67. Wild and glowing deep gold, iridescent green and red toning on both sides of this wonder gem. Fully struck by the dies and very well preserved, but worth the premium for the delightful and colorful toning, and the surfaces are just a bonus.
Estimated Value $1,500-UP.
 
Lot 1094      1936 Elgin Half Dollar. PCGS graded MS-66. This coin has satiny luster and clean surfaces throughout. The strike is sharp on the obverse, although the reverse strike lacks the definition on face of the lady portrayed in the Pioneer Memorial, which is typical of the issue. PCGS has graded 399 as MS-66, with 7 higher, all as MS-67 above the present gem example.
Estimated Value $200-220.
 
Lot 1095      1936 Elgin Half Dollar. NGC graded MS-66. Strong luster and mostly white on the obverse, with more gold toning on the reverse. A typical strike for the issue.
Estimated Value $200-250.
 
Lot 1096      1922 Grant Half Dollar, with star. NGC graded MS-66. The surfaces are bright and lustrous, and the devices are well struck on both sides. We note that this coin must be an early die state as there are no clash marks on the obverse, but extensive die polishing lines can be seen in the fields, typical of the issue. One of the finest of the important "with star" coins to survive, NGC has graded 29 this high with just 7 graded higher, all MS-67 above. Similar at PCGS where they report 24 graded this high, with only 3 higher. An important rarity for the commemorative specialist who demands uncompromising quality.
Estimated Value $7,000-7,500.
 
Lot 1097      1928 Hawaiian Half Dollar. PCGS graded MS-63 Premium Quality. A very nice example of this scarce commemorative issue. Full luster and mostly white in color, with just a trace of toning near the rim. Boldly struck and housed in an older green insert PCGS holder.
Estimated Value $1,700-1,900.
 
Lot 1098      1918 Illinois Half Dollar. PCGS graded MS-66. Bright and lustrous with a touch of golden toning starting to form.
Estimated Value $500-600.
 
Lot 1099      1925 Lexington-Concord Half Dollar original wood box (no coin). The box is the original shipping holder for these popular commemorative half dollars. Faded ink on both sides, but the Minute Man and Tower can still be seen.
Estimated Value $25-50.
 
Lot 1100      1920 Maine Half Dollar. PCGS graded MS-65. Glowing reddish gold toning on this example, mostly on the obverse, with some also near the reverse rim. Sharp and well preserved, and housed in an old green insert PCGS holder.
Estimated Value $450-500.
 
Lot 1101      1920 Maine Half Dollar. NGC graded MS-64. Bright blue iridescent toning on the upper rim with reddish gold elsewhere on the obverse. A bit more gold on the reverse, and this is likely from the original holder where this coin was kept for many years. Rarely are these encountered with such wonderful color.
Estimated Value $300-400.
 
Lot 1102      1938 New Rochelle Half Dollar. PCGS graded MS-67. Outstanding quality for this issue, we note full blazing luster in the fields and fiery gold toning around the obverse and reverse periphery. Sharply struck throughout and virtually without a flaw. As nice as these are found, with the PCGS Population Report showing only 85 graded this high, with a single coin graded higher.
Estimated Value $1,250-1,500.
 
Lot 1103      1938 New Rochelle Half Dollar. PCGS graded MS-65 Premium Quality. Hazy luster and satiny in appearance. A good gem of this date in an old green insert holder.
Estimated Value $275-325.
 
Lot 1104      1936 Norfolk Half Dollar. NGC graded MS-68. Golden tab toning on the obverse, more golden on the reverse with hints of green iridescence near the edge. Sharp and as perfect as this issue is found.
Estimated Value $1,300-1,400.
 
Lot 1105      1938-D Oregon Trail Half Dollar. NGC graded MS-66. Bright white on the obverse and reverse, with just a hint of toning on the lower reverse. Bold and well preserved.
Estimated Value $200-225.
 
Lot 1106      1939-P,D,S Oregon Trail Half Dollar Set. Lot of 3 coins. This set is graded as follows: 1939-P NGC graded MS-66, 1939-D NGC graded MS-67 and 1939-S NGC graded MS-66. Absolutely white and lustrous, with no toning worthy of note. Lot of 3 coins.
Estimated Value $2,100-2,300.
 
Lot 1107      1939-D Oregon Trail Half Dollar. PCGS graded MS-67. Wow, this one has some great peripheral iridescent colors! The centers are toned a lilac gray with hints of the same iridescent colors intermixed. Boldly struck and housed in an antique PCGS small holder. Worth a good premium for the lovely colors.
Estimated Value $1,200-1,300.
 

1915-S Panama-Pacific Half Dollar
Lot 1108      Exceptional 1915-S Panama-Pacific Half Dollar. PCGS graded MS-67. One of the very finest graded of this important Commemorative issue. Bathed in satiny luster and boldly struck throughout. Enhanced by a delicate greenish gold tone mostly in the peripheral lettering and devices on both sides, but generally bright overall. PCGS in their Population Report note 51 have been graded this high with just 2 graded higher, making this one of the highest graded pieces and worthy of even a top end Registry set! Don't miss out, as spectacular coins of this quality are seldom available except when major collections are offered.
Estimated Value $4,000-4,500.
 
Lot 1109      1915-S Panama-Pacific Half Dollar. MS-64. Toned with gorgeous blue and gold toning over luster in concentric rings on the obverse and reverse. A few trivial hairlines from a gem grade, and one of the more appealing toned examples of this popular issue that has crossed our path.
Estimated Value $1,000-UP.
 
Lot 1110      1921 Pilgrim Half Dollar. PCGS graded MS-66. Richly lustrous with light golden toning. A gem in every respect.
Estimated Value $1,100-1,300.