1892 50C MS(PCGS#6461)

Spring 2023 U.S. Coins Auction

拍卖行

Stack's Bowers

批号

6441

等级

MS65

价格

9,322

详细说明

1892 Barber Half Dollar. MS-65 (PCGS). Handsome and undeniably original toning blankets both sides in a blend of antique copper-gold and warmer steel-blue. The underlying luster is full and, were it just a tad more intense, the smooth-looking surfaces would probably have secured an even higher Gem Mint State grade. Sharply to fully struck, this is an outstanding high grade type candidate for this first year of Barber silver coinage. While typically the first year of issue of a denomination attracts attention by the public, this does not seem to have happened with the Barber dime, quarter, and half dollar. The main reason is probably that nationwide attention was focused on the forthcoming 1892 souvenir (as it was called) half dollar for the World's Columbian Exposition. These coins attracted a great deal of attention, with widespread newspaper accounts. In contrast, contemporary notices about the new Barber coins were occasional and contained some pointed remarks about the design, not intended to inspire people to save them. Because of this, Barber half dollars of this date survived as a matter of chance. We are not aware of any hoard or even a small group surviving from the year of issue. Barber coins remained in numismatic disfavor as well, with scarcely a word of favorable comment being given to them in pages of The Numismatist, auction catalogues, or elsewhere. During the ensuing years, to 1915, most circulation strikes slipped into the channels of commerce without fanfare. Incidentally, the same was true of Morgan silver dollars, although today Morgan dollars survive in quantities because of government hoards. There were no equivalent hoards of Barber coins. Fast forward to the second half of the 20th century, when Barber coins became a specialty for quite a few collectors. It was soon found that the number of true Gems was few and far between. Today in 2022, it can be a real challenge to put together a set of MS-65 Barber half dollars that combines high grading numbers with sharpness of strike and good eye appeal. Indeed, we estimate that it would take several years and a well endowed pocketbook to accomplish this feat. Provenance: From the Abigail Collection, Part III. To view all items from the Abigail Collection, Part III click here. PCGS# 6461. NGC ID: 24LF. Click here for certification details from PCGS. Image with the PCGS TrueView logo is obtained from and is subject to a license agreement with Collectors Universe, Inc. and its divisions PCGS and PSA.