1883 50C Hawaii PR(PCGS#10993)

Summer 2025 Global Showcase Auction U.S. Coins

Auctioneer

Stack's Bowers

Lot Number

3504

Grade

PR63

Price

19,200

Lot Description

This is a glorious Proof with exceptional striking quality and wonderfully original surfaces. The design elements are smartly impressed and crisply defined, even on the most intricate features, and their softly frosted texture contrasts appreciably with watery fields. The entire coin displays handsome toning in dominant olive-charcoal with iridescent cobalt blue, pinkish-rose and antique gold undertones. Faint traces of numismatic handling and a bit of light residue on the reverse account for the Proof-63 grade from PCGS, but the in-hand appearance is pleasingly smooth, and the eye appeal is strong.<p>The initiative to have the United States produce circulating silver coinage for the Kingdom of Hawaii came from Claus Spreckels, banker, sugar tycoon and the power behind the sovereign King Kalakaua I. The United States government accepted this proposal in 1883, as part of an ongoing initiative to improve friendly relations and economic links with the Hawaiian Islands. Using dies created by Charles E. Barber at the Philadelphia Mint, the San Francisco Mint struck $1,000,000 worth of silver coinage for circulation in four denominations: dime, quarter, half dollar and dollar.<p>The United States Mint also produced 26 Proof sets of 1883 Kingdom of Hawaii coinage featuring one example each of the silver dime, quarter, half dollar, and dollar, along with 20 Proofs of the one-eighth dollar pattern, a coin that was replaced with the dime and never saw regular production. This is our first offering for the Proof half dollar since 2009, not surprising given the rarity of this issue and the infrequency with which specimens appear on the open market. The fleeting nature of this opportunity can hardly be overstated.