JAA USA/Philippines Proof Collection
1905 1/2C


Obverse
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Reverse
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Coin Details

  

Set Details
Origin/Country: United States
Design Description: PHILIPPINES UNDER U.S. SOVEREIGNTY
Item Description: Bronze 1/2C 1905 USA-PHIL EX. LOUIS E. ELIASBERG SR. KM-162
Grade: PCGS PF 64 RD
Owner: JAA
 
Winning Set: JAA USA/Philippines Proof Collection
Date Added: 1/31/2011
Research: See NGC's Census Report for this Coin

Owner's Description

Specifications: Bronze, 40 Grains (95% copper, 5% zinc and tin), 17.5 mm.

Business strikes of the Half Centavos coin were struck at the Philadelphia Mint in 1903 and 1904. A limited number of Proof Half Centavos were produced at the Philadelphia mint from 1903 through 1908.

The obverse design shows a young Filipino male seated next to an anvil holding a hammer in his right hand, his left arm raised, and in the background to his left is a billowing volcano. The reverse design depicts an eagle with spread wings perched atop an American shield.

The Half Centavos coin was poorly accepted by the public and no further business strikes of this denomination were made after 1904. For lack of use over 7,500,000 Half Centavos were withdrawn from circulation. Most of these were sent back to the United States where they were melted and then re-coined into One Centavos pieces in 1908. That leaves a little less than 60% of the origional total mintage still available to collectors today.

The 1905 Half Centavo is a PROOF ONLY ISSUE with a mintage of 471 coins. The PCGS population for the 1905 Half Centavos in PF-64 RED is 2 coins with only 4 specimens graded higher. The combined NGC/PCGS certified population is 2/5. This specimen is a flashy golden red near-gem from the Louis E. Eliasberg Sr. Collection.

To see high resolution (4401 X 2221 pixel) images of this coin go to: http://www.pcgs.com/TrueView/large/10949637.jpg

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