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1852 round Half Dol., BG-401, Rarity 3, Second Issue, Die State between II and III (faint trace of l

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / US Coins Start Price:250.00 USD Estimated At:500.00 - 1,500.00 USD
1852 round Half Dol., BG-401, Rarity 3, Second Issue, Die State between II and III (faint trace of l
Preview
Holabird-Kagin Americana Office
3555 Airway Drive Suite#309
Reno, NV 89511
Thursday April 11, 10am-6pm
* Preview also available by appointment

Live Auction
Friday & Saturday
April 12-13, 2012
9am PDT starting time, both days

Location
Atlantis Casino & Resort
Grand Ballroom #4
3800 S. Virginia Street
Reno, NV 89502

Lot Pick Up
Holabird-Kagin Americana Office
3555 Airway Drive Suite #309
Reno, NV 89511
Sunday April 14th, 10am-1pm

1852 Round half dollars were the first small California gold coins to be issued. On the morning of June 29, 1852, the editor of the New Orleans Daily Picayune was shown "a gold half-dollar, California money, which is so much like the United States gold dollar piece, that the best judges would be completely deceived at first glance. The half-dollar piece is lighter in color and somewhat smaller in diameter than the dollar. They are of a private issue, and have stamped on them, ‘Half-Dollar California Gold 1852.’" Which variety this was cannot be determined; Walter Breen thought it to be BG-427, but BG-401 and BG-426 are also possibilities, with the relatively common BG-401 the most likely. Since BG-401 appears to be an issue of Joseph Brothers, if the 1924 statement of Nathan Joseph that they were the first to make gold half dollars in 1852 is accepted, it must have been a BG-401. These coins were intended to circulate at face value: if the U.S. had coined gold half dollars, they would have weighed 0.84 g at standard fineness (0.85 g at the typical .880 fineness of California gold). This is not far from the weight of the first issue of Joseph Brothers, which average 0.74 g, with a peak weight of 0.79 g. (BG-426 and BG-427 are even heavier, averaging 0.82 g.) Thus, these first gold half dollars contained from 87% to over 96% of stated face value. Later issues became more in the nature of tokens, still acceptable even though known to be light.

Joseph Brothers’ second issue is struck at a reduced weight of 0.65 g on average (restrikes of 1853?). Like the first, they were made for circulation. Small head as on their ¼ dollars (see Lots 001-003), 13 stars around; date within wreath, large bow, 10 berries on each branch, all paired except bottom and top, 3 berries on each end. Frosty Uncirculated, light toning; obverse scratch in field prevents higher grade. PCGS MS62. Serial# 26703335 Totheroh Collection HKA#63548