1942-D 50C MS(PCGS#6615)

June 2021 U.S. Coins Auction

Auctioneer

Stack's Bowers

Lot Number

2054

Grade

MS68

Price

72,000

Lot Description

Extraordinary 1942-D Half Dollar Key Date Walking Liberty "Short Set" Issue 1942-D Walking Liberty Half Dollar. MS-68 (PCGS). CAC. This is a visually stunning coin that glows with colorful iridescence across both sides. Powder blue and champagne-pink in the centers are framed by partial crescents of reddish-orange and olive-gold iridescence around the peripheries. A swath of particularly vivid emerald and crimson is evident at Liberty's trailing foot. These colors are emphasized by intense underlying luster and a bold to sharp strike. Magnificent in terms of eye appeal and surface preservation, and sure to sell for a strong premium. The 1942-D is the key date among the late date Walking Liberty half dollars in the "short set" of 1941 to 1947. Despite a mintage of 10.9 million coins, it is surprisingly scarce in grades above MS-66. Writing in the 2008 reference Collecting & Investing Strategies for Walking Liberty Half Dollars,our own Jeff Ambio ranks the 1941-D as the rarest "short set" issue in Mint State, and the fifth rarest in grades of MS-65 and finer. Of the eight examples certified MS-68 by PCGS, only four have sold at auction since 2003, and none of those were approved by CAC. This PCGS/CAC MS-68 offering, therefore, represents a truly historic opportunity. In fact, this coin is the only certified MS-68 approved by CAC across all services, offering superior quality even among this elite top-of-the-pop group. It is an unmatched condition rarity and simply cannot be improved upon. Provenance: From the Lulu Collection, the #1 all-time finest PCGS Walking Liberty Half Dollars Short Set. PCGS Population: 8; 0 finer. CAC Population: 1; 0. PCGS# 6615. NGC ID: 24S7. 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.