PCGS/CAC MS-68 to be Featured in Our Prestigious Rarities Night Event
By John Salyer, Cataloger & Numismatist, U.S. Coins
Stack’s Bowers Galleries’ official auction of the Whitman Coin and Collectibles Baltimore Expo in November will feature an amazing 1859-S Liberty Seated half dollar. The coin, certified MS-68 by PCGS and verified by CAC, will highlight our prestigious Rarities Night event on Thursday evening, November 15.
This remarkable 1859-S half dollar offers incredible eye appeal and quality, with coruscating mint luster that spans the entire surface. It is nearly fully brilliant with just a touch of light gold toning on the lower obverse and reverse. The strike is bold and complete, with all device definition fully brought up. PCGS records two examples of this issue in MS-68, with none finer. Additionally, PCGS reports just four 1859-S half dollars in all grades at or above the Gem Mint State level: MS-65; MS-66; and the aforementioned two examples in MS-68.
The San Francisco Mint struck its first half dollars in 1855, and by 1859 demand for these coins in circulation remained intense. There was little numismatic interest in branch mint coinage at that time, however, as this would not occur until several decades later. The present piece is remarkably well preserved. To put the rarity of this coin into even sharper focus, there are only two Liberty Seated half dollars of the No Motto design type certified as MS-68, both of which are examples of the 1859-S. Such incredible quality is sure to demand significant attention among bidders at our eagerly anticipated November Baltimore Rarities Night event.
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