Lot 1432
1811 Capped Bust Half Dollar. NGC graded MS-65. Uniform greyish-violet with some natural iridescense. The satin-like luster is almost unimpaired by abrasions of any size on this full-gem MS65 specimen. The strike is crisp in most central areas including the hair curls and shield, the motto and wing, leg and neck feathers of the eagle, though some lack of detail may be noted at the periphery as the letters and stars are "stretched" toward the rim. A later stage of this die paring. Pop 14; 13 finer.
In the winter of 1811-12, the central Mississippi Valley was struck by three of the most powerful earthquakes in U.S. history. Even today, this region has more earthquakes than any other part of the United States east of the Rocky Mountains.
The 400 terrified residents in the town of New Madrid (Missouri) were abruptly awakened by violent shaking and a tremendous roar. It was December 16, 1811, and a powerful earthquake had just struck. This was the first of three magnitude-8 earthquakes and thousands of aftershocks to rock the region that winter.
Survivors reported that the earthquakes caused cracks to open in the earth's surface, the ground to roll in visible waves, and large areas of land to sink or rise. The crew of the New Orleans (the first steamboat on the Mississippi, which was on her maiden voyage) reported mooring to an island only to awake in the morning and find that the island had disappeared below the waters of the Mississippi River. Damage was reported as far away as Charleston, South Carolina, and Washington, D.C.
Estimated Value $9,000 - 10,000.
Overton-110a.
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| Realized $10,350 |
