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Half Eagles 1847 NGC MS64

Currency:USD Category:Everything Else / Other Start Price:NA Estimated At:11,500.00 - 15,000.00 USD
Half Eagles 1847 NGC MS64

Half Eagles 1847 NGC graded Mint State 64. Fully struck, using a severely broken, almost halved reverse die. A large break extends from the rim at 12 o'clock to 5 o'clock, with two or three additional fragments at the lower rim. Luster is rich and vibrant and there are no unsightly contact marks. Any Mint State 1847 half eagle is a rarity, but this example stands out as being unimprovable for all practical purposes.<BR><BR>There is not a half eagle date in the 1840s that cannot be considered a great rarity as a certified Mint State 64, and in fact, many dates and mints simply don't exist in this state of preservation. Even into the 1850s and 60s, with the sole exception of the 1861 which survives in quantity as a hoard coin, at the most only a few of each exist in the "64" grade and across the board, certified Mint State 65 coins are nearly non-existent. Such is the rarity of No Motto Liberty head half eagles in the ultimate classifications.<BR><BR>Breen reports that the steel from which the die were made in 1847 was of very poor quality and die breakage was commonplace. In most years no more than three or four different die combinations were required for the entire year, but due to breakage at least 14 different combinations were required to strike the quantity of coins allocated for mintage by the Philadelphia Mint. <BR><BR>NGC has graded just two examples of this date as "64," and none higher. PCGS has also grade two as Mint State 64, and two more at the "66" level. Clearly, a finer example may not be obtainable in the foreseeable future. Estimate $11,500.00-$15,000.00