1795 50C Overton 108a MS(PCGS#39226)

The August 2013 Chicago ANA World's Fair of Money

拍卖行

Stack's Bowers

批号

4099

等级

MS63

价格

504,324

详细说明

Finest Known 1795 Overton-108a, Mint State-63+ A New Discovery 1795 Flowing Hair Half Dollar. O-108a. Rarity-4. Two Leaves. MS-63+ (NGC). This condition rarity was recently discovered in Europe from an old time collection where it has no doubt resided since soon after it was struck. The obverse and reverse show considerable luster and pale silver-gray to gold patina. It is remarkable to see an early half dollar of this degree of preservation, as Liberty has full curl separation and the eagle's breast actually shows several of his minute breast feathers. Examination with a strong loupe shows the delicate marks within the feathers of the wings where the die was originally brushed up to remove any burrs or similar fragments from the die engraving process. Such fine parallel lines are always faint and shallow, and soon wear away after the briefest circulation. These are known on many early dies from this era but only seen on the few high grade coins that exist today. No adjustment marks are present, and there are no handling issues here, just a few small nicks when closely examined. This is a later die state with a few shallow and thin die cracks and a small edge chip at the base of the reverse where part of the dentils have broken off the die, possibly from contact with some form of early collar. Not only is this one of the finest to exist of the Flowing Hair type, but is it certainly the finest known of the variety as noted in the Herrman reference, as no other has been certified as Mint State. The only candidate for that grade level was last auctioned by Superior in 1988 in their Bernard Shore Collection, but that coin was noted to have a circular defect on the reverse. A simply incredible coin that was numismatically unknown until recently. Numismatic Reflections by Q. David Bowers In the late 19th and early 20th centuries Europe was a prime source for early American coins in high grades, particularly those of the first decade of the Mint's operation. Stories of these finds appeared regularly in numismatic literature. In recent generations relatively few such pieces have come to light, a notable exception being the 1964 sale of the so-called Lord Saint Oswald Collection by Christie's of London. At that time I was a frequent visitor to England had a fine relationship with Douglas Liddell, manager of Spink's. American tourists came into the establishment frequently, looking for United States coins, which by that time were in short supply. We devised a plan whereby he bought them from us in the United States and put them out for sale in London! PCGS# 39226. Provenance: Recently discovered in an old time collection NGC Census: 1; 11 finer (Mint State-65 finest) for the date.