Lot 2493
1837. ANACS graded MS-64. The lustrous surfaces are nicely overlaid with attractive rainbow toning. Lustrous silver surfaces with rich heather and lilac toning accented with some splashes of blue. An above-average strike barring the usual caveat about soft rim denticles and a few flat stars; with the reverse being exceedingly sharp on the eagle’s plumage and shield. The hair details of Liberty are definitive.
Half dollars of this particular Type were struck for only a short time, in 1836 and 1837, most of them bearing the 1837 date. Years ago such examples were, while not plentiful, at least seen regularly. Now with the strengthening of numismatics and the widespread distribution of examples, even an MS60 coin is not often available.
Design by Christian Gobrecht after John Reich: Capped Bust, perched eagle motif as in 1807-1836 earlier style, but now in smaller format, with reeded edge and with other differences.
In 1837, as here, 3,629,820 were made, keeping up the pace of low multiple-million coinages for the earlier type of the decade. These proved popular and saw wide use in commerce. However, the Treasury Department or the Mint must have felt that HALF DOL would be a more effective inscription on the reverse than 50 CENTS, and the style was soon changed.
Estimated Value $3,000 - 3,300.
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| Realized $2,300 |
