1834 50C O-110 MS(PCGS#39914)

The Regency Auction 47

Auctioneer

Legend Rare Coin Auctions

Lot Number

107

Grade

MS66+

Price

28,200

Lot Description

Ex Eliasberg and Pogue Collections, as noted on the insert. WOW! Combine the SUPERLATIVE MS66+ grade and the Eliasberg-Pogue provenance, and you know that this GORGEOUS O-110 has to be one of the FINEST KNOWN of not just the Overton variety, but the entire date! Did we say "wow" yet, because you will when you see it! This is the SECOND HIGHEST GRADED at PCGS for the Small Date, Small Letters type at that service with just a single MS67 finer. Boasting a SUPERB luster that radiates boldly across the satiny smooth surfaces, this coin offers the classic "Eliasberg" look. A pearly-gray patina is evenly dusted across both the obverse and reverse. The peripheral details are accented by a light iridescent golden, tan, olive, and soft blue hues that really do pop in a light. The brilliant and swirling cartwheel luster radiates boldly on both sides. Crisply struck on the obverse with all details being particularly bold (you can forgive the lack of detail in the drapery clasp and perhaps a star center or two). The reverse, struck from a late state of Reverse J, which has a long arching crack from the eagle's tail through the wing, across the letters of UNITED S, into the upper border of the ribbon, down into the eagle's right wing. This crack left some areas of the reverse more softly struck than the obverse in areas. Essentially flawless to the naked eye, only a strong glass aids in the location of a few very minor ticks and a tiny planchet flaw, as made, near the first S in STATES. The eye appeal is spectacular for sure! The O-110 variety is a study in early U.S. mint money saving practices. Even after four decades of striking coins, dies were reused, even when they were utilizing obverse dies years later. Indeed, the 1834 O-110 die marriage was struck in 1836. Reverse J of 1834 is the same as Reverse C of 1836. Experts also observed that O-110 was struck with the edge lettering devices used on 1836 varieties O-103, O-105, O-117, O-123 (edge 13) and O-117, O-120, O-121 (edge 14). This later proof was described in an article at the 1986 ANS COAC by Ivan Leaman and Donald Gunnet. This is a fascinating fact that invites so much research and study of die varieties, especially in trying to understand the minting process of our earliest coinage. Ex Louis E. Eliasberg Collection, Bowers & Merena/Stack's, April 1997, lot 1894; Bowers & Merena's November 2001 auction, lot 4110; D. Brent Pogue Collection, Part III, February 2016, lot 3083; our present consignor. PCGS 4, NGC 1, CAC 4. This is the second FINEST graded by PCGS with just a single MS67 finer. Five and a half years ago, as part of the Pogue III, auction, this SUPERB GEM realized $32,900. The current Collectors Universe value is listed at $36,000. The single finest MS67 has never sold in auction, nor is it CAC approved, so if you demand the finest CAC approved coins for your type set or specialized early half dollar set, this GEM is not to be missed! Cert. Number 31914887 PCGS # 39914.00