Lot 1837
1822 Proof Half Dollar, Overton-103, Rarity-8 as a Proof and possibly unique. PCGS graded Proof 65. This is apparently the finest proof of the date, and remains the finest graded by PCGS or NGC and is alone as the sole PR-65 seen. The strike and surfaces are superb and we see no trace of weakness, the devices boast excellent mint frost and well mirrored fields are intact. When viewing this coin, everything about the surfaces confirms it is a proof, and it remains the only proof to qualify as such at PCGS. Toned with glowing reddish gold hues on the obverse, the reverse shows a trace of dark blue and green at the rim, with more reddish gold at the centers and elsewhere. Highly appealing and as perfect as one could hope to find of this important early proof date. Star ten on the obverse is recut, which is diagnostic for the variety. Curiously, this is the only known proof coin of this die pairing, the others which claim to be proofs are from the O-111 and O-114 die pairings.
The known population is as follows (our thanks to Bowers & Merena who published this list in the Rarities Sale, 8/9/99 on lot 193):
1). The present specimen, O-103 PCGS graded PR-65 ex: Chapman's Cleneay Sale 12/1890:1152; Kreisburg-Schulman 2/1961:2755; Bowers & Merena Norweb Sale 11/88:3077.
2). O-111 Brilliant Proof, Bart Holmes; R.T. McPherson; Stack's 2/1953: Stack's 11/1957:1313; Reed Hawn; Stack's 8/1973:63, not graded as proof by either PCGS or NGC at this time.
3). O-114 Choice Proof, Dr. C.A. Allenburger Collection, B. Max Mehl 3/1948:780; John Jay Pittman Sale, David Akers 5/1998:1479, Bowers and Merena's Rarities Sale, 8/9/99:193, currently NGC graded PF-64.
4). O-114 Proof-64, George H. Earle; Henry Chapman 6/1912:2908; John H. Clapp; Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr., Bowers and Merena 4/1997:1790. Questionable proof status, possibly a mint state coin according to Bowers in his Rarities Sale 8/9/99:163 after further study, not graded by either NGC or PCGS as proof at this time.
5). O-114 Robert Arnel; Stack's 1/67:359; George F. Scanlon; Stack's 10/1973:1385, not graded as Proof by either PCGS or NGC at this time.
In addition, an example appeared in Part I of the Howard Newcomb Collection: J.C. Morgenthau 2/1945:741, and this is likely one of those listed above as it is otherwise untraced.
A foremost rarity, and a coin which is certainly the finest proof half dollar of this date graded, and may be unique as a proof according to our consignor and PCGS (PCGS # 6197) .
Estimated Value $140,000 - 175,000.
Ex: Kriesburg-Schulman's Gustav Lichtenfels Collection Sale, 2/61:2755 and Chapman's Cleneay Sale 12/1890:1152, and most recently from Bowers and Merena's Norweb Collection, 11/14/88:3077.
|
| |
| Unsold |
