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FUN Signature US Coin Sale 1251 4-6 & 8-9 Jan 2017
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Proof Seated Half Dollars
1841 50C PR64 NGC. WB-102. The date shows repunching on the base of 18. This Choice proof was described in the Bowers and Merena catalog as: "Light gold toning with faint blue highlights over deeply reflective fields. Boldly struck with every detail extremely sharp." We add that the patina occurs primarily around the borders, while the centers are only delicately toned. The central motifs feature a moderate degree of frost, and although it is insufficient to warrant a Cameo designation, the field-device contrast remains noticeable.
The number of 1841 proof half dollars struck is unknown, but there is no doubt of the issue's extreme rarity today. Breen reported nine appearances and believed that five were different examples. The Wiley-Bugert reference wrote "less than 6 [proofs] known." In the John Jay Pittman catalog, David Akers explained that he had verified six 1841 proof halves. Our auction records suggest eight examples are extant.
Roster of Proof 1841 Half Dollars
1. PR65 NGC. James Kelly (privately, 1946); John Jay Pittman Collection, Part II (David Akers, 5/1998, lot 1522); Richmond Collection (David Lawrence, 3/2005), lot 1786; C.L. Lee Sale (America Numismatic Rarities, 9/2005), lot 413; Pre-Long Beach (Ira & Larry Goldberg, 2/2006), lot 1472.
2. PR64 NGC. Boys Town Sale (Superior, 5/1990), lot 3803; Long Beach Signature (Heritage, 5/2008), lot 718; Eugene H. Gardner Collection, Part III (Heritage, 5/2015), lot 98500; Baltimore Auction (Stack's Bowers, 3/2015), lot 13079, (now an NGC PR65+).
3. PR64 NGC. John G. Mills (S.H. and H. Chapman, 4/1904), lot 896; J.M. Clapp; Clapp Estate, to Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. (1942); Eliasberg Collection (Bowers and Merena, 4/1997), lot 1919; Phil Kaufman; FUN Signature (Heritage, 1/2008), lot 3021; FUN Signature (Heritage, 1/2013), lot 5655; Long Beach Signature (Heritage, 9/2013), lot 6446.
4. PR64 NGC. Dr. R.H. Wilson; 1952 ANA Sale (New Netherlands, 8/1952), lot 310; Elliot Landau Collection (New Netherlands, 12/1958), lot 575; Dr. James O. Sloss Sale (Bowers and Merena, 1/1999), lot 1137; unknown intermediaries; purchased from Pinnacle Rarities (4/2008); Eugene H. Gardner Collection, Part IV (Heritage, 10/2015), lot 98712. The present coin.
5. PR62. Charles A. Cass; Empire Collection (Stack's, 11/1957), lot 1352; Reed Hawn Collection (Stack's, 8/1973), lot 132; Auction '81 (RARCOA, 7/1981), lot 137; Auction '90 (Stack's, 8/1990), lot 210; Brooklyn Sale (Stack's, 3/2007), lot 849.
6. PR61 PCGS. Rarities Sale (Bowers and Merena, 7/2005), lot 550; Philadelphia Signature (Heritage, 8/2012), lot 5154.
7. Proof. Smithsonian Institution.
8. Proof. American Numismatic Society.
Additional Appearances
A. Proof. David Golding (Stack's, 6/1952), lot 232.
B. Proof. Gustav Lichtenfels Collection (Kreisberg and Schulman, 2/1961), lot 2806. "Brilliant Proof. Sharp square edge. One of the very few in existence. Rare." Unplated.
C. Proof. Amwest (7/1981).
D. Proof. George H. Earle (H. Chapman, 6/1912), lot 2970.
1841 50C PR64 NGC. WB-102. The date shows repunching on the base of 18. This Choice proof was described in the Bowers and Merena catalog as: "Light gold toning with faint blue highlights over deeply reflective fields. Boldly struck with every detail extremely sharp." We add that the patina occurs primarily around the borders, while the centers are only delicately toned. The central motifs feature a moderate degree of frost, and although it is insufficient to warrant a Cameo designation, the field-device contrast remains noticeable.
The number of 1841 proof half dollars struck is unknown, but there is no doubt of the issue's extreme rarity today. Breen reported nine appearances and believed that five were different examples. The Wiley-Bugert reference wrote "less than 6 [proofs] known." In the John Jay Pittman catalog, David Akers explained that he had verified six 1841 proof halves. Our auction records suggest eight examples are extant.
Roster of Proof 1841 Half Dollars
1. PR65 NGC. James Kelly (privately, 1946); John Jay Pittman Collection, Part II (David Akers, 5/1998, lot 1522); Richmond Collection (David Lawrence, 3/2005), lot 1786; C.L. Lee Sale (America Numismatic Rarities, 9/2005), lot 413; Pre-Long Beach (Ira & Larry Goldberg, 2/2006), lot 1472.
2. PR64 NGC. Boys Town Sale (Superior, 5/1990), lot 3803; Long Beach Signature (Heritage, 5/2008), lot 718; Eugene H. Gardner Collection, Part III (Heritage, 5/2015), lot 98500; Baltimore Auction (Stack's Bowers, 3/2015), lot 13079, (now an NGC PR65+).
3. PR64 NGC. John G. Mills (S.H. and H. Chapman, 4/1904), lot 896; J.M. Clapp; Clapp Estate, to Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. (1942); Eliasberg Collection (Bowers and Merena, 4/1997), lot 1919; Phil Kaufman; FUN Signature (Heritage, 1/2008), lot 3021; FUN Signature (Heritage, 1/2013), lot 5655; Long Beach Signature (Heritage, 9/2013), lot 6446.
4. PR64 NGC. Dr. R.H. Wilson; 1952 ANA Sale (New Netherlands, 8/1952), lot 310; Elliot Landau Collection (New Netherlands, 12/1958), lot 575; Dr. James O. Sloss Sale (Bowers and Merena, 1/1999), lot 1137; unknown intermediaries; purchased from Pinnacle Rarities (4/2008); Eugene H. Gardner Collection, Part IV (Heritage, 10/2015), lot 98712. The present coin.
5. PR62. Charles A. Cass; Empire Collection (Stack's, 11/1957), lot 1352; Reed Hawn Collection (Stack's, 8/1973), lot 132; Auction '81 (RARCOA, 7/1981), lot 137; Auction '90 (Stack's, 8/1990), lot 210; Brooklyn Sale (Stack's, 3/2007), lot 849.
6. PR61 PCGS. Rarities Sale (Bowers and Merena, 7/2005), lot 550; Philadelphia Signature (Heritage, 8/2012), lot 5154.
7. Proof. Smithsonian Institution.
8. Proof. American Numismatic Society.
Additional Appearances
A. Proof. David Golding (Stack's, 6/1952), lot 232.
B. Proof. Gustav Lichtenfels Collection (Kreisberg and Schulman, 2/1961), lot 2806. "Brilliant Proof. Sharp square edge. One of the very few in existence. Rare." Unplated.
C. Proof. Amwest (7/1981).
D. Proof. George H. Earle (H. Chapman, 6/1912), lot 2970.