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1878-S 50C MS63 PCGS. Concentration of Silver Dol

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / US Coins Start Price:70,000.00 USD Estimated At:1.00 - 1,000,000.00 USD
1878-S 50C MS63 PCGS. Concentration of Silver Dol
<B>1878-S<50C> MS63 PCGS.</B></I> Concentration of Silver Dollar production in response to the Bland-Allison Act demoted the more practical 1878-S Half Dollar to a second class citizen. All one has to do is review the mintage figures for 1878 to see how the Mint's energies were diverted from necessary to politically motivated coinage. In that year, the San Francisco facility produced 140,000 Quarters, 1/64th of the number it turned out the previous year. Only 12,000 Half Dollars were struck, whereas 5.3 million pieces had been minted in 1877. But a staggering 13.8 million Silver Dollars were cranked out, including both Trade and Morgan designs. If ever there was a situation where commercial needs would overwhelm the supply of coinage, the 1878-S Half Dollar provides the ultimate example. The survival ratio from the brief original mintage is predictably miniscule and Uncirculated pieces are almost never encountered.<BR> All 1878-S Half Dollars were produced from a single pair of dies. As one might imagine, counterfeits have been made and mintmarks added to simulate this important rarity. However, authentication is relatively easy. All genuine 1878-S Halves show a die chip (or raised lump) high in the recessed area between the left edge of the reverse shield and the first set of vertical stripes. The mintmark on a genuine 1878-S is relatively small and has a distinctive left slant.<BR> This boldly detailed Mint State representative is one of perhaps 15-20 pieces that miraculously escaped the channels of commerce. Both sides are covered in light gray patina with deeper reddish-gold accents that gravitate to the borders. Numerous shallow marks are noted beneath the toning and a distinguishing, dark toning spot is noted within the R in AMERICA. Population: 6 in 63, 6 finer (6/05).