Lot 1454
1872-S Liberty Seated Half Dime. Mint mark above bow. NGC graded MS-67. A frosty gem white coin, superb in every way. Pop 3; none finer at NGC.
The chief factor accounting for the Half Dime's demise was the fact that it, along with other silver coins, had not circulated to any great extent since the suspension of specie payments in the opening months of the Civil War (1861). Instead, millions of United States silver coins were left our shores and were melted, though many still circulated in the Caribbean and other places to later return to U.S. circulation in 1878. Concurrently, a replacement for the Half Dime, the nickel Five-cent coin, had already been in circulation since 1866. It was popular with the public, who liked a coin that would stay in circulation, as well as with mint officials, who were working out special "deals" with nickel baron Joseph Wharton for huge supplies of the metal at top prices. It has even been alleged, according to some of Q. David Bowers' researches, that the Half Dime and Silver Three-cent piece were deliberately sabotaged in favor of their nickel equivalents because of influence from Wharton.
Estimated Value $1,800 - 1,900.
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| Realized $1,955 |
