1903 50C AU53 Certification #35420365, PCGS #6495

CoinFacts Details

Expert Comments

Ron Guth

The 1903 Half Dollar is not as common as some of the other dates in the series, but it is hard to call it underrated with the information we have from the Population Reports. The 1903 Half Dollar is readily available in Mint State, especially in MS64. The PCGS CoinFacts Condition Census starts at MS65 (indicative of the overall quality of this date), and tops out at MS67. The strike on 1903 Half Dollars is strong in general, but finding an example with full horiozontal lines in the shield can be a real challenge. The finest 1903 Half Dollars hail from the usual array of big-name Barber collectors: Price, Friend, Duckor, and Shireman. These collections have all been dispersed, so new collectors have an opportunity to upgrade and improve their holdings.

David Akers

In my estimation, this is one of the most underrated issues in this series. Mintage figures give no indication whatsoever of its true rarity since 2,278,000 pieces were struck, hardly a low figure. However, in any mint state grade, a 1903 Barber Half Dollar is very scarce, if not rare, and of the relatively few known mint state specimens, only a handful could legitimately be termed Gems. The 1903 is considerably more rare than most of the popular and highly regarded mintmarked issues of the 1890's, and it is also the rarest of the three issues of 1903, a fact which may surprise all but the serious student of this wonderful series

PCGS #

6495

Designer

Charles E. Barber

Edge

Reeded

Diameter

30.00 millimeters

Weight

12.50 grams

Mintage

2278000

Metal

90% Silver, 10% Copper

Pop Higher

137

Pop Lower

259

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	4000	R-4.2	50 / 74 TIE	50 / 74 TIE
All Grades	250	R-6.6	28 / 74 TIE	28 / 74 TIE
60 or Better	30	R-8.9	9 / 74 TIE	9 / 74 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	4000
All Grades	250
60 or Better	30

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-4.2
All Grades	R-6.6
60 or Better	R-8.9

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	50 / 74 TIE
All Grades	28 / 74 TIE
60 or Better	9 / 74 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	50 / 74 TIE
All Grades	28 / 74 TIE
60 or Better	9 / 74 TIE

Condition Census Learn More

Pos	Grade	Pedigree and History
1	MS66 PCGS grade	Dr. Steven L. Duckor Collection - Dr. Peter & Janice Shireman Collection - Heritage 1/2016:5404, $8,812.50
1	MS66 PCGS grade	Dr. Thaine B. Price Collection - David Akers 5/1998:157, $18,700 - Dr. Steven L. Duckor Collection - Heritage 8/2010:3206, $12,650 - “Perfection 9” Collection
1	MS66 PCGS grade	Dennis Nagy - Dale Friend Collection - Heritage 1/2009:3891, $13,800 - Greensboro Collection, Part VI - Heritage 10/2015:3294, $8,812.50
1	MS66 PCGS grade	Jason Carter, sold privately in 9/2007 - Eugene H. Gardner Collection, Part III - Heritage 5/2015:98527, $12,925
1	MS66 PCGS grade

#1 MS66 PCGS grade

Dr. Steven L. Duckor Collection - Dr. Peter & Janice Shireman Collection - Heritage 1/2016:5404, $8,812.50

#1 MS66 PCGS grade

Dr. Thaine B. Price Collection - David Akers 5/1998:157, $18,700 - Dr. Steven L. Duckor Collection - Heritage 8/2010:3206, $12,650 - “Perfection 9” Collection

#1 MS66 PCGS grade

Dennis Nagy - Dale Friend Collection - Heritage 1/2009:3891, $13,800 - Greensboro Collection, Part VI - Heritage 10/2015:3294, $8,812.50

#1 MS66 PCGS grade

Jason Carter, sold privately in 9/2007 - Eugene H. Gardner Collection, Part III - Heritage 5/2015:98527, $12,925

#1 MS66 PCGS grade