1839 50C Drapery VF30 Certification #48982022, PCGS #6232

CoinFacts Details

Expert Comments

Ron Guth

1839 Seated Liberty Half Dollars come in two variations: Wiith Drapery and Without Drapery, referring to the fold of drapery (or lack thereof) beneath Liberty's left arm (viewer's right). The earliest version of the 1839 Seated Liberty Half Dollar match the 1838's in that there is no drapery below Liberty's elbow. Later in 1839, engravers added drapery to balance out the dessign. Subsequent to this change, and "No Drapery" varieties are unintentional and were caused when over-zealous polishing removed the drapery from the die, either partially or fully.

Across all grades, the 1839 Drapery Half Dollar is slightly less common than the No Drapery inb

PCGS #

6232

Designer

Thomas Sully/Christian Gobrecht

Edge

Reeded

Diameter

30.00 millimeters

Weight

13.36 grams

Mintage

1872400

Metal

90% Silver, 10% Copper

Pop Higher

321

Pop Lower

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	1200	R-4.9	53 / 66 TIE	90 / 126 TIE
All Grades	75	R-8.2	44 / 66 TIE	71 / 126 TIE
60 or Better	3	R-9.8	13 / 66 TIE	18 / 126 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	1200
All Grades	75
60 or Better	3

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-4.9
All Grades	R-8.2
60 or Better	R-9.8

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	53 / 66 TIE
All Grades	44 / 66 TIE
60 or Better	13 / 66 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	90 / 126 TIE
All Grades	71 / 126 TIE
60 or Better	18 / 126 TIE

Condition Census Learn More

Pos	Grade	Pedigree and History
1	MS65+ PCGS grade	Rev. Dr. James G.K. McClure Collection - Heritage 6/2016:4527, $15,275 - Heritage 1/2017:5663, $15,275
1	MS65+ PCGS grade	Stack's 1/2002:1451, $6,900 - Eugene H. Gardner Collection - Heritage 6/2014:30483, $14,100 - Stack's/Bowers & Sotheby's 10/2015:37, not sold - Stack's/Bowers 4/2016:13078, $14,100
3	MS65 PCGS grade	Mid-American Rare Coin Auctions 2/1985:481 - James Bennett Pryor Collection - Bowers & Merena 1/1996:98 - Heritage 10/2009:673, $13,800 - D. Brent Pogue Collection, Part V - Stack's/Bowers & Sotheby's 3/2017:5027, $21,150
3	MS65 PCGS grade	Richard B. Winsor Collection - S.H. & H. Chapman 12/1895:??? - John M. Clapp Collection - John H. Clapp Collection, sold intact in 1942 - Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection - Bowers & Merena 4/1997:1915, $12,100 - Palakika Collection - Heritage 5/2007:2133, $18,400
5	MS64 PCGS grade

#1 MS65+ PCGS grade

Rev. Dr. James G.K. McClure Collection - Heritage 6/2016:4527, $15,275 - Heritage 1/2017:5663, $15,275

#1 MS65+ PCGS grade

Stack's 1/2002:1451, $6,900 - Eugene H. Gardner Collection - Heritage 6/2014:30483, $14,100 - Stack's/Bowers & Sotheby's 10/2015:37, not sold - Stack's/Bowers 4/2016:13078, $14,100

#3 MS65 PCGS grade

Mid-American Rare Coin Auctions 2/1985:481 - James Bennett Pryor Collection - Bowers & Merena 1/1996:98 - Heritage 10/2009:673, $13,800 - D. Brent Pogue Collection, Part V - Stack's/Bowers & Sotheby's 3/2017:5027, $21,150

#3 MS65 PCGS grade

Richard B. Winsor Collection - S.H. & H. Chapman 12/1895:??? - John M. Clapp Collection - John H. Clapp Collection, sold intact in 1942 - Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection - Bowers & Merena 4/1997:1915, $12,100 - Palakika Collection - Heritage 5/2007:2133, $18,400

#5 MS64 PCGS grade