1806 50C O-108 MS(PCGS#39309)

The Regency Auction 47

Auctioneer

Legend Rare Coin Auctions

Lot Number

22

Grade

F15

Price

96,938

Lot Description

Ex Meyer Collection, as noted on the insert. The RAREST of the Red Book varieties of this series, it is a solid Rarity-7 with just SEVEN examples known in all grades. Noted early half dollar specialist dealer Sheridan Downey refers to the 1806 O-108 as "the Holy Grail" of the series. This is the only die marriage that pairs the Knobbed 6 obverse and no stem through the claw on the reverse. To make this even rarer than the known population of just seven examples is the full cud above UNITE, of which only TWO are known! This well circulated RARITY has a very pleasing "circ-cam" look with deeper silver-gray toning in the fields that contrasts with the lighter beige-silver on the definition. Unevenness in the strike leaves some weakness at the sixth cloud and along the periphery along the right side of the reverse. Despite the extensive use in circulation, the surfaces show just a few minor lines and a minor abrasion. The reverse cud is dramatic and likely accounts for the rarity. The 1806 O-108 is often compared to the 1817/4 half dollar, and there are some parallels between this major rarity and the 1817/4. Both are Rarity-7 and come in two very distinct die states. The Steve Tompkins Census includes the following coins: 1 - PCGS EF-40. Ex private collector, bought in El Paso Texas, 1979; sold privately in 2002; Bowers and Merena's 2003 ANA Auction, lot 1395; Stack's, January 2009, lot 416; D. Brent Pogue; D. Brent Pogue Collection, Part I, May 2015, lot 1112; Dr. Charles Link Collection. The plate coin for the variety in the Tompkins early half dollar reference. 2 - PCGS VF-35. Ex Brian Greer, January 1995; Sheridan Downey, 1995; Dr. Gerald Schertz; Sheridan Downey's Mail Bid Sale #22, October 1998, lot 267; Sheridan Downey's Fixed Price List of July 1999; E. Horatio Morgan Collection, Stack's Bowers, November 2019, lot 7076. 3 - PCGS VF Details--Cleaned. Ex Charles R. Ross, 1965 to 1966; Paul Munson, 1966 to 1989; Superior's sale of the Paul Munson Collection of Bust Half Dollars, Jascha Heifetz Collection sale, October 1989, lot 462; Larry Briggs; private collector; Heritage's sale of the Loma Linda Collection, January 2018 FUN Signature Auction, lot 4858. The plate coin for the variety in the fifth edition of the Overton reverence. 4 - PCGS Fine-15. Ex Philip Straus, before 1951 to 1959; Stack's sale of the Philip G. Straus Collection, May 1959, lot 1866; intermediaries unknown; New Netherland's 61st Public Auction Sale, June 1970, lot 369; Al Overton, 1970 to 1972; Donald L. Parsley, 1972 to 1993; Sheridan Downey's Mail Bid Sale #9, July 1993, lot 97; Overton Collection. The discovery coin for the variety. 5- Ex Harry Bernstein, mid 1970s to 1979; Jeff Friedman, 1979 to 1985; Dr. Gerald Schertz, 1985 to 1996; Sheridan Downey, 1996; Charlton Meyer, 1996 to 2008; Harry Laibstain, 2008; unknown collector(s), 2008 to 2011; Rare Coin Wholesalers, 2011; Dr. Charles Link Collection; the present coin. 6 - PCGS Fine-12. Ex Pennsylvania collection, since the early 1950s; Rich Uhrich, 2013; Chris Merrill; Heritage's sale of the Merrill Collection, February 2018, lot 3865. Possibly the same as the example seen at a coin show in Pennsylvania, 1984, and examined again in 1997. 7 - PCGS VG-8. Ex discovered in Hawaii, 1976; Donald Frederick, 1977 to 2008; Heritage's sale of the Bayside New York Collection, July-August 2008 ANA Signature Auction, lot 439; Harry Laibstain; David J. Cinquina; Sheridan Downey's Mail Bid Auction #45, August 2017, lot 50. PCGS 1, NGC 0, CAC 1. The VG8 (#7 above) sold for $60,500 in August 2017 and the E. Horatio Morgan coin, (#2 above) sold for $84,000 in November 2019. The current PCGS Price Guide value is listed at $90,000. Despite a few examples coming onto the market in recent years, this is an opportunity not to be missed. As with the 1817/4 being offered later in this sale, ownership of an 1806 O-108 instantly vaults your cabinet into an echelon rarely attained by any Bust Half Nut! Good luck and congratulations in advance to the winning bidder! Cert. Number 12624998 PCGS # 6072.00