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Auction #Rich3 > Lot #1664 > Classic U.S. Coins > Liberty Seated Half Dollars 1840 50c (O) Medium Letters NGC MS64 ex: Eliasberg DLRC #: 99633  Track

Item Description:
One of the most interesting and scarce die pairings to obtain, this coin was struck at the New Orleans Mint but has no mintmark. The reverse die was a leftover reverse from 1839 with the medium letters style. The reason there is no mintmark on the reverse die is that in 1839 the O mintmark appeared on the obverse die, and hence was not needed on the reverse die. Of the reverse dies shipped to New Orleans, this one die was not used for coinage in 1839, and hence was available for coinage in 1840. Furthermore, the reverse die shattered early in production, and few were coined. Close examination will note at least nine radial die cracks from the rim on the reverse, plus a few additional peripheral cracks through the legend. The obverse die shows fine rust pits over most of Liberty. Needless to say, this isn't an example of the finest workmanship from the New Orleans Mint, but the coin itself is a delight with the lustrous surfaces, fairly sharp strike, and good eye appeal. The rarity of this issue has been known for many years, and precious few have been discovered. This variety was identified by 1886 in the Harlan P. Smith sale. This particular coin has been held off the market in the Eliasberg Collection for many years and is making another appearance here in the Richmond Collection. Extensive discussion of the discovery of the New Orleans minting of these is found in the Eliasberg Collection (Bowers and Merena, 4/97, pages 216-7), with notes by Bill Bugert on the research that he and Randy Wiley conducted on this particular variety.

Ex: Eliasberg Collection (Bowers and Merena, 4/97), lot 1917; earlier Harlan P. Smith collection (S. H. and Henry Chapman, May, 1906) to the John Clapp Collection, 1942 to Eliasberg.

NGC Census: 3, 1 finer (finest MS 64).
Sold For: $10,350.00

DLRC Auctions · Past Auction Records

Description Lot # / Auction Realized Date
1840 50c (O) Medium Letters NGC MS64 ex: Eliasberg 1664: Richmond Sale, Part III Login 3/7/05

Click here to view past auction records for all grades of this issue.

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