1805 50C O-112 MS(PCGS#39286)

March 2018 Baltimore U.S. Coins Auction

Auctioneer

Stack's Bowers

Lot Number

3413

Grade

MS61

Price

16,800

Lot Description

The R.L. Miles 1805 O-112 Second Finest Known The Tompkins Plate Coins 1805 Draped Bust Half Dollar. O-112, T-2. Rarity-2. MS-61 (NGC). A second Condition Census offering from this die pair with a truly compelling provenance. The surfaces glisten with a lavender-grey iridescence and tinges of olive-gold at the upper obverse and lower reverse borders. Scattered ticks are commensurate for the assigned grade, though the overall complexion is smooth in-hand. The strike is uniform and sharp throughout, with the diagnostic clashmarks and cracks boldly displayed. An important and attractive piece that was selected by researched Steve Tompkins as the plate coin for the variety in his reference on the series. This piece is traceable back to Stack's April 1969 sale of the of R.L. Miles, Jr. Collection, Part II, where it was sold alongside the incredible Vanderbilt 1874-CC dime (now MS-63 PCGS) and the stunning Blue Moon 1794 dollar (now AU-58+ PCGS), among many other rarities. Offered in lot 1213, the present 1805 O-112 was called "One of the finest examples of the date we have ever seen," with the cataloger suggesting it should "realize double the Guidebook value." The sentiment remains the same nearly 50 years later, where it ranks as the second finest example from these dies behind only the MS-62 (PCGS) Clarke specimen currently being offered in the preceding lot. It also sits comfortably within the top 10 examples of the overall 1805 issue (normal date), and has the distinction of being numerically tied with the example from the D. Brent Pogue Collection (O-111). Provenance: From the Sutton Court Collection of Early Half Dollar Varieties. Earlier ex from our (Stack's) sale of the R.L. Miles, Jr. Collection, Part II, April 1969, lot 1213; Superior Galleries' sale of September 1988, lot 4279. The Tompkins plate coin for the variety. NGC Census: 1; none finer (O-112 variety only). PCGS# 39286. NGC ID: 24EG. Click here for certification details from NGC.