1823 50C Genuine PCGS....

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Elusive 1823 O-109 Half, Fine 15 Details

1823 50C Genuine PCGS. O-109, High R.5. The obverse die appears on O-108 and O-109, and is usually recognized by a die crack across the drapery on late O-108 half dollars and all examples of the O-109 marriage. The I in PLURIBUS is below the space between the A and T in STATES on this marriage, and the first A in AMERICA has full left and right serifs.
In addition to the crack through the drapery that begins at the 1 in the date and ends at star 1, the obverse has another crack from the 1 in the date to the lowest hair curl and all stars on the right. An additional crack connects the stars on the left, with a further die crack from the border to stars 5, 6, and 7, the cap, and the border over star 8. There are no obvious die cracks on the reverse.
The 1823 O-109 die marriage was unknown to Overton when his 1967 first edition was published, and made its first appearance in the 1970 second edition where it was called R.6. The variety remained R.6 for at least 20 years, and retained that rating in the 1990 third edition. Today it is called High R.5, with 30 to 40 examples believed to exist. This coin is a "musical chairs" specimen that Don Frederick owned on at least two different occasions. He sold it to Floyd Farley in 1973, and reacquired it for his own collection more than three decades later.
Fine 15 or better, cleaned. Both sides have light gray, gold, and ivory surfaces with traces of luster retained in the protected areas. Despite considerable wear, partly the result of an inadequate strike, the surfaces are pleasing with only minor handling marks. Minor abrasions on the reverse suggest that someone attempted to diminish a dark stain, possibly from a rubber band. Although shy of the Condition Census, this remarkable piece will generate spirited bidding.
Ex: Don Frederick (6/1973); Floyd Farley; Sheridan Downey (5/2001), lot 96; Sheridan Downey (11/2005).
From The Donald R. Frederick Collection of Early U.S. Coinage: Bayside Part II.

View all of [The Donald R. Frederick Collection of Early U.S. Coinage: Bayside Part II ]

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