1840 50C PR63 PCGS....

Click the image to load the highest resolution version.

Sold on Nov 1, 2013 for:

$30,550.00 Bid Source: Internet bidder

Get one of these:

Share this lot

Track Item Printable Auction Results

Sell One of These

Description

Auction Info

Guides & Info

Description

1840 Half Dollar, PR63
Extremely Rare Early Proof
The Reed Hawn Specimen

1840 50C PR63 PCGS. Small letters, the Reverse of 1839, as on all Philadelphia Mint products (the Medium Letters with 1840 date are actually New Orleans coins with mintmark not visible). Decidedly rare; while a precise mintage figure is unavailable, it must have been small, and the traditionally given amount is just six specimens. This is the Reed Hawn - Hain Family coin, once graded PR63 by NGC but crossed over to PCGS.

While striking softness is noted on the obverse stars and the lower parts of the eagle's body, the reflectivity and definition elsewhere conveys "proofness." Toning is light, gold-green to blue with considerable dappling. Lightly hairlined but attractive.

A roster for this proof issue, updated from our August 2007 offering of the Pittman-Kaufman specimen, follows.

1. PR65 NGC. James Kelly (1946, privately); John Jay Pittman (David Akers, 5/1998), lot 1519; The Phil Kaufman Collection of Early Proof Sets, Part One (Heritage, 8/2007), lot 1782.
2. PR65. Gustav Lichtenfels (Kreisberg and Schulman, 2/1961), lot 2801; Norweb Collection (Bowers and Merena, 11/1988), lot 3125.
3. PR64 NGC. Richmond Collection; The Estate of Winthrop A. Haviland, Jr. (Goldberg, 9/2010), lot 1567. Distinctly different from item B below.
4. PR63 PCGS (formerly PR63 NGC). The present coin. Reed Hawn (Stack's, 8/1973), lot 128; Hain Family (Stack's, 1/2002), lot 1452; Heritage Internet (9/2002), lot 11477.
5. Proof. Allenburger Collection (B. Max Mehl, 3/1948), lot 982; Floyd Starr (Stack's, 10/1992), lot 547.
6. PR60 PCI. Superior (9/1999), lot 1277; George Byers (Stack's, 10/2006), lot 1116.

In addition to these five, three other pieces have not been matched to any above:

A. PR65 PCGS. Listed on the PCGS Population Report, and probably one of the pieces listed above.
B. PR64 NGC. Heritage Internet (5/2002), lot 15319. Possibly the Norweb piece or the Starr specimen.
C. PR60. Bowers and Merena (5/1995), lot 1105.

Coin Index Numbers: (NGC ID# 27T2, PCGS# 6384, Greysheet# 6383)

Weight: 13.36 grams

Metal: 90% Silver, 10% Copper

View Certification Details from PCGS