1840-O H10C Drapery AU53 Certification #33090907, PCGS #4327

CoinFacts Details

Owner's Comments

V-7

Expert Comments

Ron Guth

The 1840 Half Dime with Drapery has the lowest mintage of any of the Half Dime varieties of 1840. Understandably, it is also the rarest and most valuable. In Mint State, this major variety is extremely rare, with only three examples recorded in the PCGS CoinFacts Condition Census. Even then, the finest example is only MS63. In fact, the 1840-O Half Dime with Drapery, per the PCGS Population Report, has the lowest population in all grades than every other date, with the exception of the unique 1870-S. Even the vaunted 1844-O shows nearly twice as many examples.

The strike characteristics for the 1840-O Half Dime with Drapery include weakness on the upper left wreath and, sometimes, on the obverse denticles. However, in this case, the rarity of the date trumps our normal advice to seek out a fully struck example. Take whatever you can get.

PCGS #

4327

Designer

Robert Ball Hughes/Christian Gobrecht

Edge

Reeded

Diameter

15.90 millimeters

Weight

1.34 grams

Mintage

240000

Metal

90% Silver, 10% Copper

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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	100	R-8.0	1 / 36	2 / 79
All Grades	4	R-9.8	1 / 36 TIE	2 / 79 TIE
60 or Better	0	R-10.1	1 / 36	1 / 79

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	100
All Grades	4
60 or Better	0

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-8.0
All Grades	R-9.8
60 or Better	R-10.1

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	1 / 36
All Grades	1 / 36 TIE
60 or Better	1 / 36

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	2 / 79
All Grades	2 / 79 TIE
60 or Better	1 / 79

Condition Census Learn More

Pos	Grade	Pedigree and History
1	MS64 PCGS grade	Joseph O'Connor, sold privately in 2/2004 - Eugene H. Gardner Collection - Heritage 6/2014:30190 - Legend Rare Coin Auctions 12/2014:36, $23,500 - Heritage 2/2015:3053, not sold - Legend Rare Coin Auctions 9/2015:77, $31,725 - Heritage 6/2016:4367, $25,850
2	MS62+ PCGS grade
3	MS62 PCGS grade
3	MS62 estimated grade
5	AU58 PCGS grade

#1 MS64 PCGS grade

Joseph O'Connor, sold privately in 2/2004 - Eugene H. Gardner Collection - Heritage 6/2014:30190 - Legend Rare Coin Auctions 12/2014:36, $23,500 - Heritage 2/2015:3053, not sold - Legend Rare Coin Auctions 9/2015:77, $31,725 - Heritage 6/2016:4367, $25,850

#2 MS62+ PCGS grade

#3 MS62 PCGS grade

#3 MS62 estimated grade

#5 AU58 PCGS grade