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

3033

1850 H10C PR65 NGC

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / US Coins Start Price:22,000.00 USD Estimated At:1.00 - 1,000,000.00 USD
1850 H10C PR65 NGC
<B>1850 H10C PR65 NGC.</B></I> Ex: Pittman-Kaufman. The 1850 proof half dime, a wonderful Gem from the John Jay Pittman Collection, is an important rarity, one of only four or five known to exist.. Mintage estimates range from seven to ten pieces, but just three 1850 proof half dimes have been certified, all by NGC-a PR64, the Kaufman PR65, and one other PR65. <BR><B><BR> </B></I>Most known proof half dimes of the year are examples of Valentine-2, considered a proof-only variety by students of the series. On this variety, Valentine notes that the 18 and 5 touch the base of the rock under Liberty. Walter Breen was apparently the first to note that examples are only known as proofs, as discussed in his supplement to the Valentine reference, published in 1958 as a closing issue of Wayte Raymond's <I>The Coin Collector's Journal</B></I>.<BR><BR> The following roster is based on the auction appearances of 1850 proof half dimes known to us:<BR><BR><B>1. PR65 NGC.</B></I> <B>The Kaufman piece</B></I>. David Bullowa (5/1952); John Jay Pittman (David Akers, 10/1997), lot 484.<BR><BR><B>2. PR65.</B></I> Virgil Brand; New Netherlands Coin Co. (52nd Sale, 12/1958), lot 379; Goldberg Coins (2/2003), lot 303; Stack's (6/2004), lot 4194. The cataloger for New Netherlands notes the variety was unknown to Valentine, identified by the numerous parallel die scratches below and right of the date: "The only one we have seen from these dies, though about four or five other proofs are known from the dies of V-2."<BR><BR><B>3. Proof.</B></I> Will W. Neil (B. Max Mehl, 6/1947), lot 1628; Stack's (6/1998), lot 1148.<BR><B><BR>4. Proof. </B></I>Stack's (11/1995), lot 1162.<BR><BR> <B><I>Additional Appearances</B></I></B></I><B><BR>A. Proof.</B></I> Valentine plate. Only the obverse is plated in Valentine.<BR><B><BR>B. Proof.</B></I> Heman Ely (W. Elliot Woodward, 1/1884), lot 959; John Work Garrett; Johns Hopkins University (Stack's, 3/1976), lot 109.<BR><B><BR>C. Proof.</B></I> Golden I (Kreisberg Schulman, 2/1962), lot 910<BR><B><BR>D. Proof.</B></I> Numisma (7/1954)<BR><B><BR>E. Proof.</B></I> NN34: 463, impaired.<BR><BR> Extraordinary cobalt-blue, beige-gold, and violet toning graces each side of this impressive Gem, and a solid strike brings out the design elements, including complete separation between Liberty's foot and the sandal. The fields are well mirrored, and yield noticeable contrast with the motifs when the piece is tilted under a light source. Nicely preserved surfaces reveal a clash mark within the M of DIME, and numerous die polish lies are visible in the fields, along with a few unobtrusive hairlines. The only identifiers we can locate are a couple of tiny marks below the cap and another to the right of Liberty's neck. An extremely rare issue, examples of which do not frequently become available for sale.<BR><I>From The Phil Kaufman Collection of Early Seated Proof Sets, Part Two.</B></I><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>)
Sign In to Bookmark Lot