LOT Old Heritage Auctions  /  2008 Jan. FUN Signature Coin Auction #454  / 

1316

1794 50C VG8 NGC

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / US Coins Start Price:3,250.00 USD Estimated At:1.00 - 1,000,000.00 USD
1794 50C VG8 NGC
<B>1794 50C VG8 NGC.</B></I> O-101 prime, R.7. This is the earliest die state we have seen, and apparently still Rarity-7 with a perfect reverse die. There appears to be a trace of the crack between D and S with 10x magnification, only between the dentil tips, but this may actually be a faint hairline in that location. Faint die chips are visible above and left of M, and appear to be constant on all die states of this variety, although they were only described for Overton-3 in his first edition. There are no other die defects seen on either side. Martin L. Beistle and Al C. Overton (first edition) describe the crack between D and S for later die states. In the revised edition (1970), Overton notes: "All observed specimens show a die crack from edge to pair of leaves below first S." This same comment is repeated by Donald Parsley in the third and fourth editions. <BR>Pleasing pewter-gray surfaces with a trace of brown on the obverse and deeper steel toning around the devices on the reverse. A few scattered nicks and dents on each side are consistent with the grade. This is a lovely lower-middle grade 1794 half dollar, and extremely important to specialists for its early die state.<BR>Cataloging these coins for the Westmoreland County Collection provides a challenge to present accurate descriptions without over describing the coins. Most of these late 18th and early 19th century coins have served in commerce, some circulating briefly and others extensively, just as they were intended. During their time they were passed from one hand to another, and the coins acquired minor imperfections including tiny nicks, scratches, and other blemishes. While reviewing our descriptions, please remember the typical appearance of these early half dollars. <BR>Beistle recorded this early die state as "Extremely Rare" in 1929, with little change since that time. Although it was not the first 1794 half dollar variety coined at the Mint, this variety is listed first in the current Overton reference due to its similar placement by Haseltine, Beistle, and Overton in his first edition.<BR>Haseltine-1; Beistle 1-A; Overton-1; Hilt 6-D; PCGS# 6051; Encyclopedia-4552. <BR><I>Ex: Sheridan Downey (3/2001).<BR>From The Westmoreland County Collection of Early Bust Halves, 1794-1807.</B></I><BR><BR><B>Coin Engraver:</B> Robert Scot<BR><BR><b>Shipping:</b> Coins & Currency (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.heritageauctions.com/common/shipping.php">view shipping information</a>)
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