Lot 1567
1840 Liberty Seated Half Dollar. Small letters (reverse of 1839). NGC graded Proof 64. Lovely blue and gold toning. Well struck. A rich medium-toned coin whose golden yellow centers provide a focus for the iridescent hues that surround all the way to the rims. The reverse is slightly favored by blue tones with overall eye appeal of superb beauty. One of the nicest early Proofs we have ever seen.
Extremely rare: there are probably fewer than five known with most specialists agreeing on four including the Norweb, Starr, Hawn, and Pittman specimens. All of them were struck for inclusion in presentation Proof sets made by the Mint for dignitaries, government VIps, and friends of the Mint. Only about 10 such sets were likely to have been made. None went to collectors for there very few of them at the time and no one expected to pay a premium for Proof format coins. Pop 2; 2 finer in 65.
The Small Letters reverse was used to coin all 1840 production-run half dollars at the Philadelphia Mint. Medium Letters pieces without a mintmark were used in New Orleans according to recent studies. The obverse has noticeable raised circular die-finish lines within the central device, remnants of the die making process, and present on all known Proofs. Most of the vertical shield lines on the reverse extend upward through some or all of the crossbars.
Estimated Value $30,000 - 35,000.
Ex: Richmond Collection; The Estate of Winthrop A. Haviland, Jr.
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| Realized $27,600 |
