1896-O 50C MS66 PCGS....

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Sold on Apr 30, 2009 for:

$28,750.00 Bid Source: Internet bidder

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The Thaine B. Price 1896-O Barber Half
MS66, Among the Finest Known

1896-O 50C MS66 PCGS. Ex: Thaine B. Price. A truly exceptional specimen and one of the very finest to survive of this elusive date and mint. The surfaces are quite attractive, with strong luster and no distracting nicks or marks. The reverse is particularly smooth. Lightly toned with a blush of russet-gold near the periphery. For an 1896-O, this coin is well struck, although the fletchings and right shield corner lack complete detail. These areas are always seen with some degree of softness in the strike for this date and mint. No die cracks or clashes are seen, similar to the Eliasberg coin. When it comes to rarity, this date has long been known to be one of the most difficult to locate in true Gem condition. David Lawrence rates this issue second only to the 1904-S in the series in overall Mint State rarity. A review of the great auction sales of the past decades will turn up few that can compare to the present coin. When David Akers last cataloged the present coin, he noted that it was surpassed only by the Eliasberg specimen, a piece that, like many of the Eliasberg coins, originated with numismatist J.M. Clapp, who purchased it directly from the New Orleans Mint in August 1896 (Bowers and Merena, 4/1997, lot 2077). An important opportunity for the advanced Barber specialist. While there is a single MS67 piece now certified at PCGS, we would not be at all surprised to find that to be the Eliasberg coin, making this splendid piece still second (and not by much) in the Condition Census for the issue. Population: 2 in 66, 1 finer (2/09).
Ex: Dr. Thaine B. Price Collection (David Akers, 5/1998), lot 137; FUN Signature (Heritage, 1/2005), lot 4212, which realized $29,900; ANA Signature (Heritage, 7/2008), lot 1705, which brought $51,750.
From The Joseph C. Thomas Collection.(Registry values: N7079)

Coin Index Numbers: (NGC ID# 24LW, PCGS# 6475, GSID# 6586)

Metal: 90% Silver, 10% Copper
Weight: 12.50 grams
ASW: 0.3617oz
Mintage: 924,000

View all of [The Joseph C. Thomas Collection, Part One ]

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