120
|
Half Dollars
G
EM
U
NC
1855 A
RROWS
L
IBERTY
S
EATED
H
ALF
D
OLLAR
770
1855. Arrows
.
PCGS graded MS-65 PQ.
CAC
Approved
. Lovely blue and golden toning. Balanced and
subtle champagne, lavender, and shimmering blue-as-steel
color over silvery surfaces with a satin consistency. Fully
struck with outstanding hair and feather detail. Rich luster
swirls over surfaces spared of any abrasions or heavy die
polish lines that are seen on some 1855 With Arrows
halves.
Following close upon the Arrows and Rays issue produced
in 1853, Mint Director Snowden modified the design in
1854 by retaining the arrows at the date but removing the
rays from around the eagle. Breen noted that the combina-
tion of increased time of production, the cost of die sinking
and the reduced die life were all factors in Snowden's deci-
sion to eliminate the rays in the new issues of 1854. Struck
from 1854-1855, the With Arrows, No Motto Seated half
dollars were produced at Philadelphia, New Orleans and
San Francisco. The issues of this type struck in Philadelphia
are seen in gem condition much less frequently, oddly
enough, than the ones made at New Orleans. The 1855 is
second only to the 1855-S with regards to conditional rarity.
An exciting time to acquire one of the finer Gems and most
elusive issues of the brief With Arrows, No Motto half dollar
series!
Pop 5; 4 finer in 66
. (
PCGS # 6281
)
Estimated Value ........................................ $8,000 - 8,500
771
1857-O
.
PCGS graded EF-45
. Nicely toned. New Orleans
Mint was a major coin production facility in the mid-19th cen-
tury. The port located there was, for decades, larger than either
New York or Philadelphia in terms of tonnage or income to the
Federal government from import duties.
Pop 21; 57 finer
.
(
PCGS # 6291
)
Estimated Value ................................................... $100 - 110
772
1860-S PCGS graded Genuine AU Details
. Cleaning. Mostly
untoned except light gold reverse toning. (
PCGS # 6301
)
Estimated Value ................................................... $100 - 110
G
EM
P
ROOF
1863 H
ALF
773
1863
.
PCGS graded Proof 65
. Lovely rich steel-blue ton-
ing. Lustrous mirror-reflective fields along with lightly
frosted devices. Sharp drapery and shield on the obverse,
and equal exquisite design on the reverse whose razor-
edged design is most attractive. A truly outstanding Gem
Proof specimen of a this Civil War period (and very low
mintage) Proof Half Dollar from 1863. Only 460 struck.
Pop
18; 3 finer in 66.
(
PCGS # 6417
)
Estimated Value ........................................ $5,000 - 5,500
L
OVELY
P
ROOF
1863 L
IBERTY
S
EATED
H
ALF
774
1863
.
PCGS graded Proof 65
. Only 460 minted. Lovely
gold, purple and blue toning. Well detailed for this more
early No Motto Proof, with shimmering toned highlights that
add considerably to the appeal of this bold, mark-free Gem.
Pop 18; 3 finer in 66
. (
PCGS # 6417
)
Estimated Value ........................................ $5,000 - 5,500
