1850-O Liberty Seated Half Dime. Large O. MS-65 (PCGS). CAC.

A beautiful, fully original Gem toned in iridescent warm silver-apricot patina on the reverse, the obverse with streaks of copper-rose to a base of antique silver. Satiny, smooth and sharply struck, even the finest specialized collection would be enhanced by the inclusion of this exquisite 1850-O half dime. A relatively generous mintage of 690,000 pieces conceals the elusive nature of this issue. Worn examples are moderately scarce (Rarity-3, per Blythe) and we suspect that much of the mintage fell victim to the widespread melting of old tenor silver coins during the early California Gold Rush era. This issue is rare in Mint State. Q. David Bowers (2016) accounts for only four to six coins that grade MS-65 or finer, the present Gem certainly among our finest offerings for the 1850-O of all time.

PCGS# 4346.

PCGS Population: 4; 3 finer (MS-67 finest).

From our (Stack's) sale of the Numismatic Properties of the Essex Institute, Salem, Mass., February 1975, lot 413. Lot tag included.

Estimate: $4’000.00