1788 VT 1/2P Bust Right, RR-20, BN MS(PCGS#800835)

1788 VT 1/2P Bust Right, RR-20, BN MS (PCGS#800835)

November 2025 Showcase Auction U.S. Coins

Lot Description: 130.4 grains. Beautiful and glossy light brown with enough peripheral frost to suggest this piece deserves a grade at least one whole grade higher. Ideally centered and very nicely struck, free of any kind of significant flaws, just a well selected example of the variety that would please any picky connoisseur. The obverse shows some light peripheral laminations and a bit of planchet texture in the soft spot of the neck, but no post-striking flaws at all. Denticles frame that entire side. On the reverse, denticles frame nearly the complete circumference, absent below the date but all four numerals are complete and bold. The surface quality is ideal, and despite the late state of the reverse, the strike is bold enough to show the raised die polish lines on the right side of the reverse. One crack arcs below the date, another extends through D of INDE, the short crack to E of INDE shows a break at the crossbar of that letter, and a final crack stretches from the denticles through the seated figure's forehead. There are a fair number of pretty nice Ryder-20s around, but this is as nice as any we've seen at this grade level or the next one.