1817 50C AU58+ Certification #32919528, PCGS #6109

CoinFacts Details

Owner's Comments

O.112a, R2. For 1817 Chief Engraver Scot produced a new MD and struck new WH from which WD were made. Relief was somewhat lowered and central hair details were modified...thinner and more detailed, as were the folds in the cap. Liberty got a nose job, smaller and more attractive, and the relief of her cheek and jaw was improved. And yet not enough WD's were produced and the Mint had to rely on earlier ones, using an 1814 first (the ultra-rare 1817/4 variety), the obverse of which quickly broke after a handful of struck coins. The old 1813 die lasted longer, striking tens of thousands. For inspection, here is a pretty example from this tough year. This CBH has excellent luster with just a hint of toning at the periphery. An EDS obverse is paired with a shattered reverse giving this eye appealing coin nice character.

Expert Comments

Ron Guth

In 1817, the U.S. Mint produced over 1.2 million Half Dollars. Among those, researchers have identified thirteen different die varieties, including two overdates (1817/3 and the exceedingly rare 1817/4) and one with a so-called "Punctuated Date" (actually a die chip between the 1 and the 7). This date is plentiful in most grades, though Mint State examples are scarce to rare, a fact exascerbated by the popularity of the series and the wide distribution of known examples. At the top end, the best example rates MS67. All of the coins in the PCGS CoinFacts Condition Census are MS65 or better.

PCGS #

6109

Designer

John Reich

Edge

Lettered: FIFTY CENTS OR HALF A DOLLAR

Diameter

32.50 millimeters

Weight

13.50 grams

Mintage

1215567

Metal

89.2% Silver, 10.8% Copper

Pop Higher

Pop Lower

1065

Region

The United States of America

Price Guide

PCGS Population

Auctions - PCGS Graded

Auctions - NGC Graded

Rarity and Survival Estimates Learn More

Grades	Survival Estimate The Survival Estimate represents an average of one or more experts opinions as to how many examples survive of a particular coin in three categories: 1) all grades, 2) 60 or better, and 3) 65 or better. These estimates are based on a variety of sources, including population reports, auction appearances, and personal knowledge. Survival estimates include coins that are raw, certified by PCGS, and certified by other grading services.	Numismatic Rarity Numismatic Rarity converts the Survival Estimate for a particular coin into a number from 1 to 10 (with decimal increments) based on the PCGS Rarity Scale. The higher the number, the more rare the coin.	Relative Rarity by Type Relative Rarity By Type ranks the rarity of this coin with all other coins of this Type. Lower numbers indicate rarer coins.	Relative Rarity by Series Relative Rarity By Series ranks the rarity of this coin with all other coins of this Series. Lower numbers indicate rarer coins.
65 or Better	3000	R-4.4	46 / 72 TIE	49 / 78 TIE
All Grades	100	R-8.0	40 / 72 TIE	43 / 78 TIE
60 or Better	12	R-9.5	41 / 72 TIE	42 / 78 TIE

Survival Estimate The Survival Estimate represents an average of one or more experts opinions as to how many examples survive of a particular coin in three categories: 1) all grades, 2) 60 or better, and 3) 65 or better. These estimates are based on a variety of sources, including population reports, auction appearances, and personal knowledge. Survival estimates include coins that are raw, certified by PCGS, and certified by other grading services.
65 or Better	3000
All Grades	100
60 or Better	12

Numismatic Rarity Numismatic Rarity converts the Survival Estimate for a particular coin into a number from 1 to 10 (with decimal increments) based on the PCGS Rarity Scale. The higher the number, the more rare the coin.
65 or Better	R-4.4
All Grades	R-8.0
60 or Better	R-9.5

Relative Rarity by Type Relative Rarity By Type ranks the rarity of this coin with all other coins of this Type. Lower numbers indicate rarer coins.
65 or Better	46 / 72 TIE
All Grades	40 / 72 TIE
60 or Better	41 / 72 TIE

Relative Rarity by Series Relative Rarity By Series ranks the rarity of this coin with all other coins of this Series. Lower numbers indicate rarer coins.
65 or Better	49 / 78 TIE
All Grades	43 / 78 TIE
60 or Better	42 / 78 TIE

Condition Census Learn More

Pos	Grade	Pedigree and History
1	MS67 PCGS grade	Heritage 1/2007:968, $25,300 - Duffy Collection - Heritage 7/2008:1679, $32,200 - D. Brent Pogue Collection - Stack's/Bowers & Sotheby's 9/2015:2023, $64,625 - Dr. Charles Link Collection
2	MS66 PCGS grade	George H. Earle Collection - Henry Chapman 6/1912 - John H. Clapp Collection, sold intact in 1942 - Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection - Bowers & Merena 4/1997:1745 - Sheridan Downey FPL 12/1997, not sold - David Akers, sold privately at the 2002 American Numismatic Association convention - D. Brent Pogue Collection - Stack's/Bowers & Sotheby's 9/2015:2024, $58,750
2	MS66 PCGS grade	George H. Earle Collection - Henry Chapman 6/1912 - John H. Clapp Collection, sold intact in 1942 - Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection - Bowers & Merena 4/1997:1739, $4,840 - Heritage 7/2003:7409 - Stuart Levine, sold privately - D. Brent Pogue Collection - Stack's/Bowers & Sotheby's 9/2015:2022, $25,850
2	MS66 PCGS grade	Good River Collection - Superior 5/2006:567, $29,900
5	MS65 PCGS grade	George H. Earle Collection - Henry Chapman 6/1912 - John H. Clapp Collection, sold intact in 1942 - Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection - Bowers & Merena 4/1997:1740, $18,700 - Joseph C. Thomas Collection - Heritage 4/2009:2417, $27,600

#1 MS67 PCGS grade

Heritage 1/2007:968, $25,300 - Duffy Collection - Heritage 7/2008:1679, $32,200 - D. Brent Pogue Collection - Stack's/Bowers & Sotheby's 9/2015:2023, $64,625 - Dr. Charles Link Collection

#2 MS66 PCGS grade

George H. Earle Collection - Henry Chapman 6/1912 - John H. Clapp Collection, sold intact in 1942 - Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection - Bowers & Merena 4/1997:1745 - Sheridan Downey FPL 12/1997, not sold - David Akers, sold privately at the 2002 American Numismatic Association convention - D. Brent Pogue Collection - Stack's/Bowers & Sotheby's 9/2015:2024, $58,750

#2 MS66 PCGS grade

George H. Earle Collection - Henry Chapman 6/1912 - John H. Clapp Collection, sold intact in 1942 - Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection - Bowers & Merena 4/1997:1739, $4,840 - Heritage 7/2003:7409 - Stuart Levine, sold privately - D. Brent Pogue Collection - Stack's/Bowers & Sotheby's 9/2015:2022, $25,850

#2 MS66 PCGS grade

Good River Collection - Superior 5/2006:567, $29,900

#5 MS65 PCGS grade

George H. Earle Collection - Henry Chapman 6/1912 - John H. Clapp Collection, sold intact in 1942 - Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection - Bowers & Merena 4/1997:1740, $18,700 - Joseph C. Thomas Collection - Heritage 4/2009:2417, $27,600