Owner Comments:
1877 50C
Judd-1539a, Pollock-1707,
Rarity: R.8 One of Three Known Examples
. Struck in silver with a reeded edge.
Obverse:
The obverse centers around a bust of Liberty facing left that appears by Morgan depicting a variation on the Anna Williams theme, with Liberty wearing a Phrygian cap and laurel wreath and the word LIBERTY inscribed on the cap band. The bust is surrounded by 13 stars arranged seven to the left and six to the right. IN GOD WE TRUST is inscribed above with the date below.
Reverse:
Features an eagle standing on a tablet inscribed E PLURIBUS UNUM, and clutching an olive branch and three arrows. The eagle's left talon supports a shield. The legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA is at the border above, with the denomination HALF DOLLAR below.
Comment:
This fully struck and flashy specimen is virtually brilliant, but the borders display a hint of golden toning. Delicate hairlines determine the grade. These dies were listed only in copper (Judd-1539) in the first edition of Judd. In its Bolender auction appearance Sept 1958, the lot description included the comment
"cost the king [Farouk] $390 some years ago, according to the envelope, not a high price. Worth $500 to-day" ,
Additionally US Patterns made the observation that the '8' in the date is slightly over the '1' caused by the date being initially started too far to the right.
(See photo)
Weight: 182.8 grains; 30.4 mm.
Provenance/Appearances:
Private sale May 2020;
USPatterns.com states three examples of Judd-1539a are known which reinforces previous auction infomation,
Palace Collections of Egypt (Sotheby's, 2/1954), part of lot 1978;
- 194th Auction (Bolender, 9/1958), lot 2084;
- R.E. Cox, Jr. Collection (Stack's, 4/1962), lot 2275;
- Branigan Collection (Bowers and Ruddy, 8/1978), lot 1836;
- Morris Evans Collection (Bowers and Merena, 8/1998), lot 2092 $9775;
- Kagin's; Teletrade, 4/1999;
- Teletrade, 3/2000; & Teletrade, 8/2000 ($9800);
- The Collection of William Rau., Heritage April 2018 CSNS - Chicago / Lot #4510 ($18,014)..