Heritage World Coin Auctions
Long Beach Signature US Coin Sale 1252 16-17 Feb 2017
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Early Half Dollars
1796 50C 15 Stars, O-101, T-1, R.5 -- Repaired -- PCGS Genuine. VF Details. Amato-142. Draped Bust Small Eagle half dollars elicit excitement whenever they appear at auction, regardless of grade or surface condition. This 15 Stars example is no exception. Both sides display subdued gray patina with blue/charcoal peripheral accents. Liberty's hair and drapery are well-defined, and the eagle's wings exhibit about one-half of the feather detail. The devices are well-centered on the planchet and most of the dentilation shows. The obverse is devoid of mentionable marks. A light mark on the lower-left part of the eagle's neck serves as a pedigree marker, as do rim dings above the U and N in UNITED and to the left of the last A in AMERICA. Neither side reveals adjustment marks. The PCGS disclaimer refers to seven diamond-shaped countermarks on Liberty's forehead and temple that have been professionally repaired. These are only vaguely visible except under high magnification. The disclaimer notwithstanding, this coin will be a nice fit in a mid- to high-grade type collection. Our research into this series indicates that at least 30 percent of these elusive half dollars show one or more post-strike impairments, most of which are more obvious or disfiguring than seen on the present specimen. Moreover, several others reveal mint-made "problems," such as unsightly adjustment marks or planchet defects.
Ex: Howard D. Egolf Collection (Stack's, 5/1961), lot 929; Robert W. Rusbar Collection (Bowers and Merena, 9/1990), lot 273; Scotsman Auction Co. (2/2007), lot 542; Bonhams (9/2016), lot 42.
1796 50C 15 Stars, O-101, T-1, R.5 -- Repaired -- PCGS Genuine. VF Details. Amato-142. Draped Bust Small Eagle half dollars elicit excitement whenever they appear at auction, regardless of grade or surface condition. This 15 Stars example is no exception. Both sides display subdued gray patina with blue/charcoal peripheral accents. Liberty's hair and drapery are well-defined, and the eagle's wings exhibit about one-half of the feather detail. The devices are well-centered on the planchet and most of the dentilation shows. The obverse is devoid of mentionable marks. A light mark on the lower-left part of the eagle's neck serves as a pedigree marker, as do rim dings above the U and N in UNITED and to the left of the last A in AMERICA. Neither side reveals adjustment marks. The PCGS disclaimer refers to seven diamond-shaped countermarks on Liberty's forehead and temple that have been professionally repaired. These are only vaguely visible except under high magnification. The disclaimer notwithstanding, this coin will be a nice fit in a mid- to high-grade type collection. Our research into this series indicates that at least 30 percent of these elusive half dollars show one or more post-strike impairments, most of which are more obvious or disfiguring than seen on the present specimen. Moreover, several others reveal mint-made "problems," such as unsightly adjustment marks or planchet defects.
Ex: Howard D. Egolf Collection (Stack's, 5/1961), lot 929; Robert W. Rusbar Collection (Bowers and Merena, 9/1990), lot 273; Scotsman Auction Co. (2/2007), lot 542; Bonhams (9/2016), lot 42.