Lot 2922
1839-O Capped Bust Half Dollar. NGC graded Proof 62. Nice gray toning. A few tiny handling marks. Normal coin alignment (several other Proofs of this issue have the reverse rotated 180 degrees to medallic alignment). Extremely rare. An extremely sharp-looking capped bust half dollar, a coin with superb details in the hair and a wallop from the dies that is amazingly in its completeness, including the stars. Attractive deep "antique silver" colored toning with faint accents of rose, blue and pale green suggests that the present specimen spent much of its life in an old style collector's cabinet or possibly in one of the craft paper coin envelopes seen in Estate collections from the thirties and forties.
This is one of the most illustrious examples known and an important rarity. One of the most important features is also the bold obverse O Mintmark above the date. The obverse mintmark was used for just a couple of years before the mint transferred it to the reverse where it remained until the early 20th century. As we now know, the various branch mintmarks stayed on the reverse until 1909 when the obverse mintmarks appeared on cents and double eagles (1908), and 1916 when they appeared on the obverse again on quarters and half dollars. The reeded edge pieces were first struck in 1836 with FIFTY CENTS spelled out for the denomination. In 1838, the design was modified somewhat and the denomination changed to HALF DOL. Only 20 of the 1838-O pieces were struck (all of them Proofs), but possibly far fewer Proofs were made of the 1839-O, of which this is the first we have ever offered for sale at auction. Designed by Christian Gobrecht; weight 13.36 grams.900 silver.100 copper, diameter 30 millimeters; reeded edge.
According to the Coinsite website, a major source for information about America's early coinage, NGC has graded just three Proof 1839-O Half Dollars: this Proof 62, a Proof 64, and the finest of which is a Proof 65. In addition, NGC has graded a single Specimen 1839-O Half Dollar at the SP-62 level.
The 1839`O' Proof Half Dollars were probably struck during late March and June, 1839. The obverse die used for their production was a new one shipped that year from Philadelphia, but the reverse was one of the two dies shipped in 1838. It is very possible, therefore, that the 1838`O' Proofs and the 1839`O' Proofs were struck during the same short time frame, since the 1838`O' obverses were defaced on June 21, 1839. The 1839`O' Proofs seem to have been struck before the business strikes from the same dies. NGC #1771662-015.
Estimated Value $75,000 - 85,000.
|
| |
| Unsold |
