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1919-D 50C MS65 PCGS Ex: Jack Lee Collection. The

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money Start Price:120,000.00 USD Estimated At:1.00 - 1,000,000.00 USD
1919-D 50C MS65 PCGS Ex: Jack Lee Collection. The
<B>1919-D<50C> MS65 PCGS Ex: Jack Lee Collection.</B></I> The 1919-D Walking Liberty Half Dollar is the premier rarity in the series in Gem condition, even though it is not the most widely recognized. When discussing rarities in this series, the most attention is given to the 1921 issues from the three different mints.<BR> 1919 was an important year in history, marking the first year of peace in Europe after a long fought war. In this country, steelworkers who had recently unionized, went on strike against the United States Steel Corporation. They were unable to gain even a single concession from the company during the violent strike. Father's day was first celebrated in 1919, and soon afterwards the Chicago "Black Sox" became involved in gambling during baseball's World Series. The Chicago team was playing the Cincinnati Reds, or Redlegs as they were known. Several players on the Chicago team were convinced to lose or throw the series, in return for payoffs from professional gamblers. This year also marked the start of prohibition and the 18th amendment to the Constitution.<BR> As the First World War was now over, and a peace-treaty signed on June 28, 1919, the economy slackened and the need for half dollars and other silver coinage diminished. The entire mintage of 1,165,000 coins entered circulation, as evidenced by the number of well-worn pieces that survive even today. Once in a while, someone may have set one of these coins aside as a keepsake, and it is these few examples that remain in high grades to satisfy current collector demand.<BR> The typical '19-D, even in the top grades, is weakly struck and poorly defined. Bruce Fox noted that these coins are "almost always weak in the hand and head area on the obverse." Even this example, which has substantial design definition, is not fully struck. Jack Lee, whose collection this coin resided in, is a connoisseur who has always appreciated the finest in coinage. His collection contained some of the nicest Walkers ever to appear in the numismatic arena, and this is the specimen he chose. It has fully brilliant and satiny silver luster with only the faintest champagne toning. The fields are actually slightly reflective, imparting a nearly prooflike appearance. Liberty's upper calf and thigh are weakly defined, however, the thumb is outlined and the head is nearly fully detailed. A few small marks are visible on the obverse, especially on Liberty's breast plate. Over the last 12 years, this is only the seventh Gem example of this date that we have handled. Just 10 MS65 examples have been certified by PCGS, with one finer MS66 coin.<BR><I>From The Robert Moreno Collection.</B></I>