United States 1865 half dollar
This issue is listed as somewhat scarce for the period 1856-66. Arrows were added to the date 1853-55 to indicate a reduction in weight, from 13.36 g to 12.44 g. This specimen was lot 2452 in Sincona sale 94 (Zürich, October 2024), where it sold for 1,500 CHF (about US$2,079 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"USA, 1/2 Dollar 1865, Philadelphia. Proof. Seated Liberty type. No motto. NGC PF64. Prachtvolle Erhaltung. Magnificent condition."
Altho only 500 proofs were made of the half dollar in 1865, and not all were sold, enough have survived that this date is not considered rare in this condition. PCGS states that they have graded 56 specimens in PF-64.
Record mintage: 511,900 plus 500 proofs.
Specification: 12.44 g, 0.900 fine silver, .360 troy oz ASW, reeded edge, designed by Christian Gobrecht.
Catalog reference: KM A68.
- Alexander, David T., Coin World Comprehensive Catalog & Encyclopedia of United States Coins, Sidney, OH: Amos Press, 1995.
- Breen, Walter H., Walter Breen's Complete Encyclopedia of U. S. and Colonial Coins, New York: Doubleday, 1987.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- Wiley, Randy, and Bill Bugert, The Complete Guide to Liberty Seated Half Dollars, Virginia Beach, VA: DLRC Press, 1993.
- Yeoman, R. S., and Kenneth Bressett (ed.), A Guide Book of United States Coins, 65th Ed., Atlanta, GA: Whitman Publishing, 2011.
- [1]Richter, Jürg, SINCONA Auction 94: World and Swiss Coins and Medals, SINCONA Bullion Auction, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2024.
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