LOT Old Heritage Auctions  /  2007 (ANA) Signature Coin Auction #444  / 

828

1836 50C Reeded Edge MS61 NGC

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / US Coins Start Price:6,750.00 USD Estimated At:1.00 - 1,000,000.00 USD
1836 50C Reeded Edge MS61 NGC
<B>1836 50C Reeded Edge MS61 NGC.</B></I> Under the directorship of Robert Maskell Patterson, the 1836 reeded edge half dollars were chosen for the first strikings on the Philadelphia Mint's new steam coinage press. Chief Engraver Christian Gobrecht modified the previous Reich/Kneass designs used for Bust half dollars, dropping the reverse motto and expanding the denomination from 50 C. to 50 CENTS. Many numismatists believe that 1,200 reeded edge half dollars were struck, beginning on November 8, 1836, and intended for general circulation. The editor of the useful www.uspatterns.com website, Saul Teichman, lists the coins as a regular issue, although many editions of the Judd pattern reference listed the pieces as patterns. Numismatic researcher R.W. Julian has maintained in a <I>Coin World</B></I> article (1982) that any 1836-dated non-pattern coins for general circulation would of necessity conform to the legal 208-grain standard of the day, and that perhaps the dies were held over to 1837 for regular-issue coinage: The Mint Act reducing the legal weight standard to 206.25 grains was passed on January 18, 1837. And a bit of web-surfing and book-browsing both confirm disagreements over their true weight. (A careful weighing of Uncirculated specimens would seem to be in order.) At any rate, it is clear that most survivors did circulate, a fact borne out by the NGC and PCGS population data, which indicate that only about 15% of the certified specimens are MS60 or finer. An Uncirculated specimen is a rarity and a challenge for the specialist. This example shows deep copper-gray toning on both sides, with glints of lighter silver-gray and magenta near the rims. The piece is well but not fully struck, with all the star centrils not fully brought up and softness on the eagle's left (facing) claw--as though Mint personnel of the era were still experimenting with the new press to obtain optimal results. There is, of course, no hint of rub on this pleasing, historic, and underrated coin. Census: 9 in 61, 20 finer (7/07).<BR><BR><B>Coin Engraver:</B> Christian Gobrecht<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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