Vic's Picks
50c SEATED LIBERTY, WITH MOTTO 1866-91


Obverse
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Reverse
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Coin Details

  

Set Details
Origin/Country:
Design Description:
Item Description:
Grade: PCGS MS 64
Owner: EZ_E
 
Winning Set: Vic's Picks
Date Added: 4/5/2007
Research: Currently not available

Owner's Description

This coin carries the Dr. Thomas S. Bush pedigree. A 4-5-07 purchase.<br /><br />*************************<br />1879 HALF DOLLAR<br />*************************<br /><br />Mintage:<br />Circulation strikes: 4,800<br />Proofs: 1,100<br /><br />Designer: Obverse by Thomas Sully, modified by Christian Gobrecht and Robert Ball Hughes, executed by James Barton Longacre; Reverse of Type I by Christian Gobrecht, Type 2 by William Barber<br /><br />Diameter: ±30 millimeters<br /><br />Metal content:<br />Silver - 90%<br />Copper - 10%<br /><br />Weight: ±193 grains (±12.5 grams)<br /><br />Edge: Reeded<br /><br />Mintmark: None (for Philadelphia, PA) below the eagle on the reverse<br /><br />Tom's description:<br /><br />A simply beautiful coin, however, I can't help but think that this coin was viewed and stored as a proof throughout a certain time-point in its life. The peripheral blue color, along with the largely untoned centers, seem to indicate that at least some of its 125 year existence was stored as a proof. Mintage in this series dramatically fell with legislation calling for enormous mintages of dollar coins. Dollar coin production was politically stipulated because, at the time, a dollar coin had slightly more silver in it than did two half dollars or four quarters. There were just 4,800 half dollars minted in Philadelphia in 1879, which makes this coin substantially more scarce than many US issues, both modern and classic. However, not many numismatists collect this series by date and thus pressure on individual issues is reduced. This particular coin is completely prooflike, as are many of this issue, and many were indeed saved as proofs in the resulting confusion. The devices are completely struck up and there is coruscating luster in the fields along with some cameo contrast. A blue patina dominates the perimeter of the obverse and burns into a deep gold toward the center while the reverse is flashier with some burnt color at the rims.

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