1896-O 50C MS(PCGS#6475)

The Regency Auction 51

Auctioneer

Legend Rare Coin Auctions

Lot Number

15

Grade

MS65

Price

27,025

Lot Description

FROM THE DALE FRIEND COLLECTION, PART I. A frosty and spectacularly preserved GEM example of this popular early O-mint Barber half dollar. While not a "rare" date, its status as a Condition Rarity cannot be denied, precious few specimens survive in GEM or finer grades at either service. This coin ranks among the 10 HIGHEST graded 96-O halves at PCGS, a great coin for the top tier Registry Set collectors. A thick, satiny vibrant and bold mint frost gleams wonderfully from the fields and devices on both sides. Generally well struck, the devices are nicely defined. A few scattered, extremely minor marks are all that keeps this GEM from an even loftier grade. Untoned and offering a strong velvety silver texture the eye appeal is exceptional. PCGS 5, NGC 5, CAC 4. The last PCGS/CAC coin sold in a very weak market, back in January 2016. More recently a non-CAC MS65 NGC coin brought $22,800 in the December 2020 sale of the Larry H. Miller Collection. This is the second Condition Census example we have hand the honor of selling in recent years, including the Eliasberg-Stellar-Greensboro-Formula 1 PCGS MS67 CAC, the sole finest known of the issue. We are proud to offer this GEM and we know it will occupy a place of prominence in a great set of Barber half dollars. Cert. Number 42607914 PCGS # 6475