Lot 400
1853 Liberty Seated Half Dime. Arrows. PCGS graded AU-58. Mottled gray, green and blue toning on the obverse, and similar on the reverse, although there are some darker stains there. One thin hairline through the lower left obverse.
One of the areas of numismatics which is seldom discussed is the staggering spread in prices through the about uncirculated grades. When a coin, such as the 1853 with arrows half dime, catalogs for $40 in EF, and just a shade less than $200 in MS-60, how does one value an AU-58? Arriving at the market value is always difficult, but eye appeal is often the driving factor after the technical grade is assigned. All collectors should at least have a grasp on the wide spreads in price for similar grade coins, as factors such as eye appeal and pedigree come into play. This will certainly be true as these stunning Benson coins cross the auction block. We won't be surprised to see many seemingly common coins bring runaway prices when this old time collection finally crosses the block.
Estimated Value $95 - 110.
From the Benson collection and purchased from J. G. Macallister 2/18/45 for $7.50 and previously from Wayte Raymond, with an envelope stamped "516", possibly a lot number.
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| Realized $178 |
