1839 Capped Bust Half Dollar. Reeded Edge. HALF DOL. GR-2. Rarity-5+.

1839 Capped Bust Half Dollar. Reeded Edge. HALF DOL. GR-2. Rarity-5+. Large Letters. EF-45 (PCGS). The second rarest variety of the Philadelphia-struck 1839 half dollars behind the famous GR-1 Small Letters, GR-2 is not only difficult to find in general but also very challenging to locate in anything approaching nice condition. We have sold four examples in the past 13 years, only one of which was straight-graded, while Heritage has sold just a single attributed example. The present coin is quite pleasing, with a bold strike and an attractive circulated cameo appearance. The planchet roller streaks that Graham notes are always present on this variety appear above stars 7 and 8 and are unobtrusive. This is an early die state example, with the crack in the reverse dentils present but without the cud that eventually forms in the dentils above the R of AMERICA. The reverse is also rotated counterclockwise roughly 20 degrees. An important coin for the specialist, as finding a better example will not be an easy task. Jim Koenings Commentary: It took me many years to acquire a late die state specimen with the die break over the letter R in AMERICA. My records of sales (since 2010) show 25 specimens, with 20 of them in a details grade. This coin is an early die state example and very attractive for the grade. Provenance: From the Jim Koenings Collection. PCGS# 6179. NGC ID: 24G6. Click here for certification details from PCGS.

Estimate:$1

View all items fromStack's BowersorCoins & Banknotes