1855/54 50C PR64 PCGS. Breen-4858. The 1855/54 variety ...

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Incredibly Rare Proof 1855/54 Arrows Seated Half Dollar, One of Only a Handful of Examples Believed Extant

1855/54 50C PR64 PCGS. Breen-4858. The 1855/54 variety remained undiscovered until 1971, when Walter Breen confirmed its existence on a business strike. Apparently, it was Q. David Bowers who discovered that some proofs of this year are also of this overdate variety, albeit from a different obverse die than the two that the Philadelphia Mint to produce the business strike 1855/54 Half Dollar. Diagnostics of this rare proof delivery are:

1. Upper and lower loops of the 8 in the date are open.

2. Tiny rust pit on the upright of the 1 in the date to the right of the crossbar.

3. Scattered die file marks within the white stripes of the reverse shield (these fade on later strikings).

4. Die file marks in the reverse field between the tip of the eagle's left (facing) wing and the olive leaves.

5. Eagle's right (facing) wingtip is joined to the uppermost arrow shaft.

The present coin displays all of these diagnostics, and remnants of the underdate are also evident under the final two digits.
It is believed that approximately 23 proof 1855 Arrows Seated Halves are extant, at least three of which (per Wiley and Bugert) are from the 1855/54 overdate die. This near-Gem is appreciably bright in the fields with rich copper-gold toning that yields to cobalt-blue color around much of the obverse periphery. Some tan-lilac patination hugs the reverse denticles. With the exception of the obverse stars and the top of Liberty's head, all devices are sharply impressed, and we can find no outwardly distracting blemishes. A planchet void near the reverse denticles outside the second T in STATES is noted for pedigree purposes. We are aware of the following proof 1855/54 Half Dollars:

1. Ex: FUN 2001 Signature Sale--The Richard Allen Collection (Heritage, 2/01), lot 7822. Certified PR61 by PCGS. Is this the "impaired" example that Breen (1977) says was once owned by Ted Clarke?

2. Ex: The Chicago Sale (Superior, 8/91), lot 516. Certified PR63 by PCGS.

3. Ex: E. W. Ropes Collection (New York Stamp and Coin Co., 2/1899); J. M. Clapp; John H. Clapp; Clapp Estate (1942); Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr.; Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection (Bowers and Merena, 4/97), lot 1962. The coin was described as PR64 by Bowers in the Eliasberg catalog.

4. Ex: The Rarities Sale (Bowers and Merena, 8/96), lot 137; The Dr. Juan XII Suros Collection of United States Overdate Coinage (Superior, 2/99), lot 200; October 2000 Pre-Long Beach Sale (Superior, 10/2000), lot 4378. The present example.

5. Ex: The Norweb Collection (Bowers and Merena, 11/88), lot 3166; Baltimore '93 Auction (Superior, 7/93), lot 428. Certified PR65 by PCGS at the time of the latter sale.

Coin Index Numbers: (NGC ID# 24LE, PCGS# 6409, GSID# 6549)

Metal: 90% Silver, 10% Copper
Weight: 12.44 grams
ASW: 0.39oz

View Certification Details from PCGS