1938 50C New Rochelle SP(PCGS#99335)

Spring 2023 U.S. Coins Auction

Auctioneer

Stack's Bowers

Lot Number

3296

Grade

SP67

Price

7,800

Lot Description

Stunning Specimen Striking of the 1938 New Rochelle Commemorative 1938 New Rochelle, New York 250th Anniversary. Specimen-67 (PCGS). CAC. Untoned silver-white surfaces allow ready appreciation of smartly impressed, satiny design elements and intense semi-reflective fields. This is one of the very few known Specimen coins struck of the New Rochelle commemorative half dollar issue of 1938. Breen in his Encyclopediamentions that "reportedly 50 presentation coins on polished blanks, plus 10-14 Matte Proofs" may have been struck. Kevin Flynn elaborates that these 50 presentation coins were " distributed in dark red boxes with a velvet liner...these had documents specifying which number they were struck...they include a silver medal produced by Tiffany & Co. from Lorriland Wise's original reverse." NGC has long recognized the special merits of this Specimen issue, though PCGS only began to acknowledge their existence in July 2015. Since then the latter firm has posted 24 grading events to its Population Report, topped by a single piece in Specimen-68. The present example is also among the finest seen by PCGS, its offering in this sale representing a fleeting opportunity for advanced specialists in the United States Mint's classic commemorative coin series. PCGS Population: 11; 5 finer (Specimen-68 finest). CAC Population: 13; 0. PCGS# 99335. Click here for certification details from PCGS.