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Half Dollars
754
1839
.
PCGS graded MS-62
. Lightly toned. Reeded Edge
Halves are an uncommon type to locate in high grade, and it
seems they are forever destined to also be overlooked as a Type
coin, in the shadow as it were, of the mass of Lettered Edge
Bust coins struck between 1807 and 1836. This is a detailed
looking example that is moderately toned throughout. The
underlying surfaces have a muted luster but are select. Crisply
defined throughout Liberty the lowest stars on the obverse are
flat while some rim denticles blur below and just right of the
date.
The mid- to late-1830s were times of assorted design changes
for most U.S. coin denominations. Between 1835 and 1839, no
less than seven heads were introduced on cents, three types
each on half dimes and dimes, four types on quarters, six on
half dollars, five on quarter eagles, and at least five on half
eagles. Little or no explanation reached the Mint files in the
National Archives; obscure technical reasons may explain some
of these changes, equally obscure aesthetic considerations pre-
sumably dictated the rest. In particular, there is no immediate
answer to why the eagle was redrawn for the 1838-39 half-dol-
lar reverses The shift from 50 CENTS to HALF DOL. was pre-
sumably for uniformity with the quarter dollar and silver dollar,
accordiing to the Breen encyclopedia.
Pop 27; 61 finer
.
(
PCGS # 6179
)
Estimated Value .................................................$900 - 1,000
755
1839
.
NGC graded AU-50
. Mostly untoned.
Estimated Value ................................................... $300 - 325
756
A group of Early Half Dollars, 1811-1877
. Most are toned
and a few are damaged. Still a decent group that includes
13
Bust Halves
. Coins range from
About Good to Very Fine
All
housed in old Megrig folders. Lot of 18 coins.
Estimated Value .......................................................$500-UP
Sea t ed Li be r t y Ha l f Do ll a r s
757
1839. Drapery
.
PCGS graded MS-64
. Mostly untoned. A lit-
tle bit lightly struck on one star and the eagle’s left leg feathers
and claw, otherwise displaying an especially bold strike. Satin-
smooth delicate toned luster permeates this beautiful first year
design with a life of its own. Add a fine level of mint detail and
the appeal is very tempting.
True to the early Mint custom of regularity of design of all silver
coins, the Gobrecht Liberty Seated design (after Thomas Sully),
adopted for silver dollars in 1836, was used on half dollars in
1839. The reverse is similar to previous type of 1838-39 Bust
coinage, but the inscription is at first in small letters similar to
those of 1836-37.
The first obverse dies show no extra drapery at crook of Lib-
erty's elbow; later dies through 1891 have a small extra patch
below it. This is nothing like the heavier cloak on the Robert Ball
Hughes version found on dollars and smaller silver 1840-91.
Pop 15; 3 finer in 65.
(
PCGS # 6232
)
Estimated Value ..............................................$2,600 - 2,700
758
1840-O
.
PCGS graded VF-35
. Light even gray toning. An
attractive carefully preserved circulated example of this two
year only type from the New Orleans Mint, with the Small Let-
ters reverse of the earlier, 1839 design. There is a noticeable
(and quite interesting) die break from the rim on the reverse
that crosses the I of AMERICA on the diagonal, clips across the
right wing tip and finishes near the eagle’s lower leg. Two other
die breaks are found, the one beginning at the left rim below U
of UNITED and extending (with a crook partway) to the olive
branch. Another issues from the rim below H of HAL to the left
most claw directly above. Minor strike weakness on the reverse,
as often found on 1840-O (and for that matter, 1841-O) half
dollars. (
PCGS # 6235
)
Estimated Value ................................................... $100 - 110
