LOT Heritage Rare Coin Galleries  /  2007 Long Beach, CA Sig. Coin Auction #430  / 

3457

1836 50C Reeded Edge MS63 PCGS. An important example o

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / US Coins Start Price:1.00 USD Estimated At:1.00 - 1,000,000.00 USD
1836 50C Reeded Edge MS63 PCGS. An important example o
<B>1836 50C Reeded Edge MS63 PCGS.</B></I> An important example of this very scarce coin. The surfaces are generally bright silver in color with just a hint of gold and we note ample luster in the fields. The strike is quite sharp with Liberty's cascading curls well formed and brought up well by the dies. On the reverse we note a tiny die crack on the left side of the first T in STATES and another just past the final S dangling down from the rim. The 1836 reeded edge half dollar was selected as the first issue to be struck on the Philadelphia Mint's new steam coinage press. After Mint Engraver Kneass had his fatal stroke in 1835, the Mint appointed Christian Gobrecht to be the Engraver. Gobrecht slightly modified the previous Reich/Kneass designs used for the Bust half dollars by dropping the reverse motto (as had been done on quarters in 1831 and gold coinage in 1834) and by expanding the denomination from 50 C. to 50 CENTS. It is believed that 1,200 of these were struck beginning on November 8, 1836 and these were intended for general circulation. This is borne out by the PCGS <I>Population Report</B></I> which shows the vast majority of survivors to be circulated. Obtaining an example in Uncirculated condition is quite a challenge for the specialist. This particular coin shows the benefits of the steam presses, with well struck devices and finely executed details throughout. With the steam presses, an open collar could no longer be used, thus the edge lettering was dropped in favor of a reeded edge. The closed collar held the planchet tight during striking, forcing the movement of the coin metal into the dies instead of outward. Coinage struck on the new steam presses was more uniform in thickness, striking quality and more difficult to counterfeit successfully. Always in strong collector demand, and a great opportunity to obtain a very attractive example of this issue. Population: 6 in 63, 3 finer (12/06).<BR><I>From The Rocky Top Collection of Bust Half Dollars.</B></I><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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