January 25-28, 2004, The Pre-Long Beach Coin & Currency Auction
Sale 23

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Half Dollars

Draped Bust Half Dollars

1797 Draped Bust Half Dollar

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2312    1797. O-101. 15 Star Obverse. ANACS graded Net Fine-15 Damaged. Well struck with excellent detail for the grade with the wear evenly distributed. The rims are nice and clean as is the reverse. The problems are mostly isolated to the obverse as the surfaces contain a quantity of old digs and scratches. Actually, this is a rather good looking example that will fit nicely into a Very Fine or better Type Set. Long recognized as the key coin to the (non gold) U.S. type coin series .
Estimated Value $28,000-32,000.
 

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2313    1803. Large 3. Sharpness of Fine-15. Cleaned at one time, now lightly toned around the borders.
Estimated Value $150-200.
 

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2314    1805. O-109a, R.3. NGC graded EF-40. Choice , original toning on both sides, consisting of reds and blues in the protected areas. Nice for the grade. From a late state of the dies, with interesting cracks in and around the base of the shield on the reverse.
Estimated Value $700-850.
 

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2315    1806, 6 over 5, O-103, R.2. NGC graded AU-50. Nice, original lilac and silver-gray toning. Softly struck on the stars and high points, but clearly lustrous and evidently plucked from circulation shortly after it entered. A nice representative of this classic American type.
Estimated Value $1,800-1,900.
 

1806 Draped Bust Half Dollar. Pointed 6, stem through claw

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2316    1806. Pointed 6, stem through claw. O-115, R.1. PCGS graded MS-61. One of the finest examples of this date, easily within Overton/Parsley's census of MS-60-62. This example also appears to be nicer than the plate coin for O-115a (the only 115 variety pictured), which appears to be lightly brushed. Grey and gold toning on both sides. Some mint luster visible beneath the toning. Well struck for the grade, but with the typical softness in the area around the eagle's head. For the type, PCGS reports 8 examples, with 61 finer (the best being a single MS-67). Sadly, PCGS does not break their Population Report into varieties -- an interesting possibility for a PCGS Registry Set, perhaps?
Estimated Value $4,000-5,000.
 

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2317    1806. Pointed 6, No Stem through Claw. Overton-109, Rarity-1. PCGS graded EF-45. A bright example with copious quantities of mint luster still remaining. Small toning spots on the folds of the drapery. The holder incorrectly calls this a "Stem" variety.
Estimated Value $900-1,000.
 

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2318    1806. Pointed 6, stem through claw. O-115. EF-45. Light grey with considerable mint luster still evident.
Estimated Value $750-850.
 

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2319    1806. Pointed 6, stem through claw. O-109 (Rarity 1). PCGS graded VG-10. Excellent detail for the grade and problem-free. Pleasing uniform antique toning covers the surfaces on both sides. In an old green holder.
Estimated Value $200-250.
 

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2320    1807. O-103, R.3. NGC graded EF-45. Nicely toned, with excellent details for the grade. Softly struck on the high points, showing AU luster in the protected areas. Completely original and a great-looking example of this classic, early type. This is the only Draped Bust 1807 obverse where the Y is substantially higher than the T of LIBERTY (this die was used only on the O-102 and O-103 varieties.
Estimated Value $800-950.
 

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2321    1807. Large stars, 50 over 20. O-112, R.1. PCGS graded EF-45. Lightly toned with the normal soft strike in the centers. Lots of luster for the grade. This later state of the reverse die shows only the curve of the 2 on the upper left of the 5.
Estimated Value $500-600.
 

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2322    1810. O-102a, R.2. PCGS graded VF-35. Lightly toned with some mint luster still evident.
Estimated Value $75-100.
 

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2323    1815, 5 over 2, O-101, R-3. NGC graded AU-50. A popular "key" date issue that is always in demand. Lightly toned in lilac gray over lustrous surfaces. Nice, even strike. The reverse shows heavy, multiple clash marks, but none of the die breaks associated with the O-101a die state.
Estimated Value $3,500-4,000.
 

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2324    1818. O-113. AU-58. Frosty and very attractively toned. The centers are frosty white with natural antique tones about the borders.
Estimated Value $400-500.
 

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2325    1818, 8 over 7. Large 8. O-101, R.1. PCGS graded MS-63. Well struck, with sunset toning on both sides. PCGS reports 3 in this grade, with only two finer (1 in MS-64 and 1 in MS-65). One of only two overdate dies used on 1818 half dollars, this being the most pronounced of the two.

Half Dollars of this period are replete with all kinds of overdates, including unlikely ones such as 1815/2, 1817/3 (why weren't the earlier dated dies used in 1814?), the phenomenally rare 1817/4, 1824/1, etc. No wonder so many collectors "go nuts" for Bust Half Dollars!
Estimated Value $3,500-4,000.
 

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2326    1820, 20 over 19. Curl base 2. O-102 (Rarity 1). NGC graded AU-58. A somewhat shallow strike thru the centers with plenty of mint luster intact. Quite attractively toned with grayish-violet and light golden iridescence. In an older holder.
Estimated Value $450-550.
 

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2327    1822. O-108a, R-3. PCGS graded MS-64. Premium Quality. Bright white on the obverse; toned in gold and silvery-lilac on the reverse. Well struck and choice for the grade. Among the finest examples known of this variety (the finest listed in the Third edition of Overton are four MS-65's plus a single MS-64). A wonderful coin for the quality-minded variety specialist or for the type buyer.
Estimated Value $2,500-3,500.
 

One of the Finest 1822 Overton-101 Half Dollars

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2328    1822, 2 over 1. Overton-101, Rarity-1. NGC graded MS-65. Excellent cartwheel luster, with gorgeous golden toning at the peripheries. The reverse features desirable "pull-away" toning on the tops of most of the letters, confirming the originality of the color. NGC reports only 1 example in this grade and only 2 finer (both in MS-66). A great opportunity for the serious Bust Half Nut!
Estimated Value $9,000-10,000.
 

Finest Graded by PCGS

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2329    1824, 4 over 4, O-110, R.2. PCGS graded MS-64. Full, satiny luster beneath an appealing, lilac toning. Impressive enough as a type coin, this piece takes on added significance as the finest 1824/4 Half Dollar certified by PCGS!
Estimated Value $4,000-5,000.
 

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2330    1825 O-115. NGC graded MS-65. From the Louis Eliaserg, Sr. collection, conservatively graded there as "MS-63" and described thusly: "Most of the stars are flat, however, all other design elements are sharply defined. Light golden brown with iridescent reddish orange and light blue. Lustrous surfaces with minor hairlines and a few other insignificant abrasions not unusual for the grade. Attractive overall, and from a combined numerical and aesthetic viewpoint this is certainly one of the finer examples of the die combination." To update the description...as an MS-65, this is now the finest certified example of the variety!
Estimated Value $5,500-6,000.
Auctions by Bowers and Merena, Inc., "Louis Eliasberg, Sr. collection, April 1997, Lot 1819.
 

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2331    1826, O-108a. PCGS graded MS-64. Beautiful iridescent toning on both sides, full of blue, gold and rose colors. For the date, PCGS reports 70 at this level, with only 32 finer. PCGS doesn't break these figures down into varieties, but we suspect this is one of the finest known Overton 108a's.
Estimated Value $2,200-2,500.
 

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2332    1826. O-108. AU-55. Nicely toned.
Estimated Value $200-250.
 
2333    1827, 1831 and 1833. Extremely Fine to About Uncirculated. A nice trio of Bust Halves, all toned. Lot of 3 coins.
Estimated Value $250-300.
 

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2334    1828. Square base 2, small 8's, large letters. O-117a, R-1. PCGS graded MS-64. Well struck,with a light even gold toning. A beautiful coin and among the finest known for this variety (the top five examples in the Third edition of Overton include an MS-63 at the low end). PCGS reports only 9 examples (of this variety type) in this grade, with only 4 finer (all in MS-65).
Estimated Value $2,500-3,500.
 

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2335    1829. O-112. AU-53. Nicely toned.
Estimated Value $200-225.
 

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2336    1829. O-117. AU-50. Semi reflective surfaces with nice antique toning about the borders.
Estimated Value $200-225.
 

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2337    1830. Small 0. O-117, R.2. PCGS graded AU-58. Nice, gold and green toning on both sides.
Estimated Value $250-300.
 
2338    1832. NTC graded MS-62. A more accurate grade would be AU-58 and nicely toned.
Estimated Value $200-250.
 

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2339    1832. PCGS graded AU-55. A nice frosty mint example. In a first generation PCGS holder.
Estimated Value $190-240.
 

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2340    1833. O-108 (Rarity 1). PCGS graded AU-55. A lovely coin for the grade with plenty of luster still evident and attractively toned. In an old green holder.
Estimated Value $200-220.
 

Colorful 1837 Half Dollar

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2341    1837. NGC graded MS-65. A popular, four-year type coin, here in a beautifully toned version. Both sides feature a deep, rich blending of sea-green, lilac, and silver-gray toning. We're especially impressed by the reflective brilliance that can be seen most readily on the reverse peripheries. NGC reports 30 MS-65's, 13 MS-66's, and 3 MS-67's. That is nowhere near enough to satisfy the demand from type collectors!
Estimated Value $7,000-7,500.
 

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2342    1838. PCGS graded MS-64. Lovely gold and lilac toning, with hints of blue iridescence near the obverse rims. A tough type to locate in high grade. PCGS reports 26 coins at this level, 7 in MS-65 and only 1 in MS-66.
Estimated Value $3,000-3,500.
 

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2343    1838. PCGS graded MS-64. Strong carwtheel luster on both sides. Well struck and graced by a hint of golden toning. This is a very popular (but short-lived) type coin that took full advantage of newly introduced technical improvements such as steam coinage and new methods of die making. This is a surprisingly high grade for the issue, with only 26 reported in this grade by PCGS, 7 in MS-65, and only a single example in MS-66.
Estimated Value $3,000-3,500.
 
2344    1838. AU-53. Nice and bold with plenty of mint luster intact; all light to moderately toned.
Estimated Value $240-260.
 

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2345    1839. AU-58. Very attractively toned.
Estimated Value $300-400.
 
2346    A Lot of Half Dollars. Consists of: 1825 in Good; 1831 in Fine; 1838 in VF; 1949-S in MS-60. Lot of 4 coins.
Estimated Value $150-175.