Goldberg Coins and Collectibles

Sale 51

Pre-Long Beach Coin and Currency Auction

Half Dimes

Lot	Photo	Description	Realized
Lot 817		1794 Flowing Hair Half Dime. ANACS graded MS-61 LM-4, Valentine-4. Natural blue and golden colors. The Flowing Hair half dimes of 1794-95 were designed by Robert Scot, the chief engraver of the Mint. His design differed from that found on Birch's 1792 half dismes. Scot's design features a head of Liberty facing to the right with distinctive flowing hair. Fifteen stars, arranged 8x7, surround the head with the date below and the word LIBERTY above. On the reverse, an eagle stands amid an olive branch with the legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA around it. There is no indication of this coin's value on either side, nor would there be until the Capped Bust design was adopted in 1829. All of the 7,756 Flowing Hair half dimes dated 1794 were actually struck in March of 1795. The 1794 half dime is a scarce coin in any grade. In Mint condition it is very rare, though a group of a dozen or so extremely choice uncirculated pieces exist from a hoard found and dispersed around 1880. A fully struck example with a deep overlay of wonderful iridescent toning as described above. Lustrous. Pleasing to the eye. Close examination reveals some radical die breakage across the obverse (diagnostic for this obverse) accompanied by extensive reverse breaks as well. Destined for a fine collection (PCGS # 4250) . Estimated Value $12,000 - 13,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Unsold
Lot 818		1797 Draped Bust Half Dime. 13 stars. NCS graded Details of About Uncirculated corroded, bent. Well struck, untoned with plenty of original mint luster still present. Light die clash marks. A coin that should stir plenty of interest among Half Dime enthusiasts. A very scarce coin with only 4 graded at NGC. Historic note: Despite generations of inaccurate cataloging, the order of types in 1797 is chronologically 15 stars, then 16, finally 13. From the Breen encyclopedia: "This is only logical; the 15-star dies were left over from fall 1795, with final digit omitted, as was then common practice. The 16-star die, like its counterparts in all other silver and gold denominations, was made in 1796 alluding to Tennessee's admission to the Union as the sixteenth state (June 1), but if any presentation strikings were made of the half dismes, they have not shown up. And the permanent shift to 13 stars followed Mint Director Elias Boudinot's realizing that the Mint could not go on indefinitely adding new stars as new states entered the Union." Estimated Value $5,000 - 5,500. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $4,830
Lot 819		1805 Draped Bust Half Dime. NGC graded AU-50. Well struck with some faint adjustment marks as made. Attractive light golden toning adds to its appeal. Pop 1; 5 finer. Just added to the census, and one of the scarce higher-grade examples known to numismatics. Many half dimes dated 1801, and most of those dated 1803 and 1805, are among the most unevenly struck coins ever issued by the Philadelphia Mint. All are weak on parts of drapery and the reverse areas exactly opposite (clouds and most stars above eagle's head); and this weakness caused many to look worn after only a few days or weeks in circulation. Estimated Value $7,000 - 7,500. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $9,488
Lot 820		1805 Draped Bust Half Dime. NGC graded Fine-12. Pleasing even wear with excellent detail for the grade. Most of Liberty's hair is evident save for a few strands above her brow and on top of the head. The end of the bust is smooth and rounded, as usual, due to uneven strikes on this 1805 issue. Always commands a premium price. Only 15,600 minted. Pop 2; 17 finer. Estimated Value $1,400 - 1,500. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $2,760
Lot 821		1830 Capped Bust Half Dime. . LM-14, Valentine-1, R-3. PCGS graded MS-67. Old green holder. A hint of light tone but mostly white. Superb! From center to periphery the intense radiant frosted luster glows. A meticulous strike on every device is what collectors strive for in a Capped Bust half dime, and this coin, unlike those of other die varieties that don't quite make the "full" grade due to overuse of the dies, is extra crisp, twice as sharp as an average specimen. For that reason, the numerical condition is exact. Pop 6; 1 in MS-68. (PCGS # 4277) . A total of 14 die marriages are known for the half dime coinage dated 1830. This coinage was accomplished through the use of six obverse and eight reverse dies. Total mintage for the year was 1,240,000 coins, however, many of these were coins dated 1829, while other examples dated 1830 were actually struck in 1831. In fact, one marriage dated 1830 was minted after all 1831 coins were struck. The reverse of this variety has STATES farther to the right in relation to the scroll than any other variety of the year. Estimated Value $10,000 - 11,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $9,775
Lot 822		1832 Capped Bust Half Dime. NGC graded MS-62. Well struck featuring blue and gold color toning on both sides. Massive detail in the sharp hair curls and equally detailed stars. The Capped Bust style was in use only from 1829 to 1837. Estimated Value $400 - 450. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $460
Lot 823		1842-O Liberty Seated Half Dime. PCGS graded MS-66. Lovely blue and natural golden toning. A scarce coin from a low mintage of only 350,000 pieces, the 1842-O is seldom offered in any Uncirculated grade. In fact, the current Guide Book of United States Coins mistakenly gives it a relatively low list price for a date that is virtually unobtainable in Mint condition. This Condition Census heart-throb is fresh and satiny with frost throughout the fields. The color is radiant on both sides, but the outward appearance is essentially one of iridescence almost impossible to describe in mere words. In borrowing a phrase from President Theodore Roosevelt as he stood on a ridge crest surveying Cripple Creek, Colorado, its beauty "bankrupts the vocabulary." Not even a single toning spot in found on this exemplary coin, and the surfaces are free of abrasions. Identifiable by a thin mint-made die line through two berries on the reverse, touching the upper right serif of H and crossing into the A of HALF. Impressive to say the least!Pop 1; none finer (PCGS # 4331) . Estimated Value $23,000 - 24,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Unsold
Lot 824		1852 Liberty Seated Half Dime. PCGS graded MS-67. Old green holder. Well struck with a hint of light gold tone. Mostly untoned with silvery radiance projecting through. A wonderful coin, in fact a coin so superb and endearing that we wouldn't be surprised if it garners a lot of bids. Very choice for the grade. Pop 4; 1 in MS-68. (PCGS # 4349) . Estimated Value $4,000 - 4,500. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $4,255
Lot 825		1853 Liberty Seated Half Dime. Arrows. NGC graded MS-66. Old holder. Well struck with exquisitely beautiful toning on both sides. A spot-free dazzler whose mint luster and multicolor patina shames just about any lesser Mint State silver coin of this year. Pop 48; 17 in MS-67. The Act of February 21, 1853, reduced the weight of the denominations from the half dime to the half dollar, thus making new issues unattractive to melters. To signify the change the new coins had arrows added to the date (and for the quarter and half dollar, rays on the reverse). The rays were discontinued after 1853, and the arrows after 1855. The Liberty Seated dollar was not affected by the legislation, since nearly all pieces had been made for export purposes. Estimated Value $2,500 - 2,800. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $2,473
Lot 826		1858 Liberty Seated Half Dime. NGC graded MS-65. Beautifully toned. Soft smooth lustrous surfaces with a change to more subtle colors the further out the toning goes from the center of the coin. At the edge on both sides, lovely iridescent hues. Putting aside the luster for a moment, which we could focus on for endless discussion, on to the strike. Here again, it is easy to see this Stars Obverse "Type" coin received the requisite, sharp blow by the dies. Liberty's hair detail is bold. Many pre-1860 half dimes have this high point on the design soft and lacking detail. A gem! Pop 101; 78 finer. Estimated Value $850 - 900. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 827		1860 Liberty Seated Half Dime. NGC graded MS-68. Old holder. Well struck, frosty with light blue toning on both sides. Were we asked to define the "definitive" Superb Uncirculated half dime featuring the Legend Obverse motifs, this 1860 would be the template we would use for painting our word picture. With a population of 7 MS68s at present, there may have been a little group of this date at one time, though the coins rarely make it into auctions nowadays, so must be widely dispersed and in strong hands. This is an exquisite example. It marks the initial year of the Legend Obverse type (1860-73). Virtual perfection in the fields whose colorful toning streams light out in every direction due to the iridescent nature of the blues and steel shades. It is plain to see this was delivered a full, sharp blow by the dies. We just cannot speak too highly of this coin. Pop 7; none finer. Tied for finest known. Estimated Value $4,000 - 4,500. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $4,370
Lot 828		1869-S Liberty Seated Half Dime. PCGS graded MS-64. Nice golden toning. Desirable satin luster flows across the delicately toned silver surfaces. That being the case, this date, in addition to being elusive in Mint condition is also difficult to find fully struck. The present coin retains nice detail to Liberty and much of the wreath from a strictly above-average strike, but there is some softness in the design at the rock and left side of the shield. Also, the upper left part of the wreath is weak (these two high areas of the design lie opposite one another and often caused weakness while the other areas are normally sharp. Scarce, with low census of: Pop 14; 3 finer; 1 in 65; 2 in 66. (PCGS # 4395) . Estimated Value $2,000 - 2,100. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Unsold
Lot 829		1871 Liberty Seated Half Dime. NGC graded MS-64. Old holder. Light blue toning over gently clashed die luster. The little half dimes came to an abrupt end in 1873 upon passage of the Coinage Act of 1873. Estimated Value $250 - 300. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $299
Lot 830		1873 Liberty Seated Half Dime. NGC graded Proof 67. Lovely sea green toning on both sides. A riveting example of this always-popular Type. This sparkling example has mirror deep surfaces and offsetting cameo frosted devices. Broadly and well struck on the legends and main device, as well, which is much appreciated by collectors, with bold detail at the centers. Only 600 Proofs struck. Pop 8; none finer. Estimated Value $3,000 - 3,300. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $2,990