1896-S 50C MS(PCGS#6476)

December 2020 U.S. Coins Auction

Auctioneer

Stack's Bowers

Lot Number

1383

Grade

MS64

Price

3,120

Lot Description

1896-S Barber Half Dollar. MS-64 (NGC). The 1896-S Barber half dollar is seldom offered in Choice Mint State quality as here. Highly lustrous with a satin to softly frosted finish from the dies, both sides also display full striking detail throughout the design. Predominantly brilliant, with some delicate champagne-pink and powder blue peripheral highlights. Q. David Bowers (2019) describes the 1896-S as "another famous old-time rarity" in Mint State, a status it shares with the equally highly regarded 1896-O, 1897-O and 1897-S. Uncirculated survivors number in the dozens rather than the hundreds. Evidently few examples of this issue were kept from entering circulation and, as a consequence, high quality survivors such as this always command strong premiums. Provenance: From the Larry H. Miller Collection. NGC Census: 15; 10 finer (MS-66 finest). PCGS# 6476. NGC ID: 24LX. Click here for certification details from NGC.