Vic's Picks
50c SEATED LIBERTY, NO DRAPERY 1839


Obverse
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Reverse
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Coin Details

  

Set Details
Origin/Country: United States
Design Description:
Item Description: 50C 1839 No Drapery
Grade: PCGS AU 55
Owner: EZ_E
 
Winning Set: Vic's Picks
Date Added: 4/19/2008
Research: Currently not available

Owner's Description

A $2,315 purchase from Mark Hooten on 4-13-08.<br /><br /><br />*************************<br />1839 HALF DOLLAR -<br />SEATED LIBERTY<br />*************************<br />Mintage:<br />Circulation strikes: 1,972,400<br /><br />(The variety without drapery at Liberty's elbow is worth 2-10 times the variety with drapery.)<br /><br />Proofs: est. 5<br /><br />Designer: Obverse by Thomas Sully, executed by Christian Gobrecht; reverse by Christian Gobrecht<br /><br />Diameter: ±30 millimeters<br /><br />Metal content:<br />Silver - 90%<br />Copper - 10%<br /><br />Weight: ±206 grains ( ±13.4 grams)<br /><br />Edge: Reeded<br /><br />Mintmark: None (for Philadelphia) below the eagle on the reverse<br />---------------------------------------------------------------------------<br />Once again, here is Hoot's passionate description of this transitional coin.<br /><br /><br /> Beyond a doubt, this is my favorite issue of the transitional half dollars of 1836-1840. The visage of Seated Liberty is the closest of any of the subsidiary denominations to the original effigy engraved by Gobrecht. The details of Liberty’s face are the most noticeably different than that of Gobrecht’s dollar and the relief has been lowered, but overall,the similarities are remarkable and the “drapery” (part of Liberty’s chiton) had not yet been added to her left elbow. I believe it is likely that Gobrecht began to modify the portrait of Liberty in order to attain better metal flow by this time, but the modifications were quite subtle. The “no drapery” half dollar of 1839 is a truly unique design among the seated Liberty series and is more delicate over all than any subsequent subtype. (Again, the Red Book is misleading, calling subtypes “varieties” and not properly distinguishing the 1839 "no drapery" subtype, calling it Variety 1 as a “no motto” piece.) The lettering of the reverse is delicate, like that of the 1836-37 reeded edge half dollars. The portrait of Liberty has a clean look about her (as does the entire coin), and is not overburdened with the seemingly “massive” features of later years that bent to the practical hands of Hughes. The mintage of the no drapery 1839 half is not known, but there are few enough survivors that PCGS and NGC combined have graded less than 300 in all grades. Finding a specimen in high AU or Unc. condition is quite tough, and may require a very long wait for the collector who demands originality. Like quarter dollars (and even dimes and half dimes), this denomination was largely hoarded and melted in the years of 1849-1853, and again in the Civil War years. Thus, there are not likely many survivors of this unique piece floating about.<br /><br /><br /> This particular coin is nothing short of stunning to hold in-hand. The remaining Mint luster is quite evident and subtends the obviously thick and original patina that bathes the coin in blue and shades of mauve,with hints of gold and green. When I came across this AU55 example for less than half of what the next grade (AU58) sells for, I LEAPED on it! The high points of the eagle have very dark, inky black patination, which is what likely limits the grade. The coin is otherwise merely rubbed on the high points and is one of the most beautiful of the subtype that I have ever encountered, beating many Mint State pieces that have commonly been dipped. A true prize for my collection, and again, my favorite piece among the transitional half dollars of 1836-40.

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