1881 G50C BG-964 MS(PCGS#10822)

The November 2012 Baltimore Auction

Auctioneer

Stack's Bowers

Lot Number

5775

Grade

AU58

Price

2,820

Lot Description

Rare 1881 Indian Head Octagonal 50 Cents BG-964, Low Rarity-7 1881 Octagonal 50 Cents. BG-964. Rarity-7-. Liberty Head. AU-58 (PCGS). OGH. Plain edge. Deep honey gold with lively luster and deep orange toning highlights. From Robert Leonard/Breen-Gillio's "Unknown Maker D." Unusual reverse denomination reads CAL. DOLL. A rare variety -- PCGS suggests that perhaps just a dozen or so examples of BG-964 can be accounted for in all grades. The present piece is the only AU-58 example certified by PCGS, and the log jam of five pieces at MS-62 -- the only Mint State examples of the variety graded by that firm -- suggests a resubmission or more in the never-ending attempts to gain an extra grading point. Rare and important. PCGS# 10822. PCGS Population: 1; 5 finer (all MS-62).