3053

First Issue, Round Half Dollar?

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money Start Price:400.00 USD Estimated At:800.00 - 1,500.00 USD
First Issue, Round Half Dollar?
SOLD
420.00USD+ (84.00) buyer's premium + applicable fees & taxes.
This item SOLD at 2021 Mar 11 @ 21:24UTC-8 : PST/AKDT
Lot: 3053
Year: 1852
Denom: 50C
Title: First Issue, Round Half Dollar?
Description: 1852 round Half Dol., BG-401, First Issue (layout marks above and below wreath), PCGS AU58. Round half dollars were the first small California gold coins to be issued. On the morning of June 29, 1852, the editor of the New Orleans Daily Picayune was shown “a gold half-dollar, California money, which is so much like the United States gold dollar piece, that the best judges would be completely deceived at first glance. The half-dollar piece is lighter in color and somewhat smaller in diameter than the dollar. They are of a private issue, and have stamped on them, ‘Half-Dollar California Gold 1852.’” These coins were intended to circulate at face value: if the U.S. had coined gold half dollars, they would have weighed 0.84 g at standard fineness (0.85 g at the typical .880 fineness of California gold). This is not far from the weight of the first issue of Joseph Brothers, which contained from 87% to over 96% of stated face value. Small head as on their ¼ dollars, 13 stars around; date within wreath, large bow, 10 berries on each branch, all paired except bottom and top, 3 berries on each end. Bright gold color, slightest evidence of handling, light toning in reverse field. PCGS AU58 William C. O’Connor (PCGS# 10437).
Low Estimate: 800
High Estimate: 1500
Grading Co: PCGS
Gr: AU
Gr2: 58
OGH:
PCGS#: 10437
NGC#:
Cert#: 40625028
Pedigree/Collection: The William C. O'Connor Collection