Mechanical error, anyone? "Proof" 1853 seated half

stealer

GC auction link

For anyone not convinced, just check out how over-polished the reverse die is for true proofs (in particular, the rays).

LJenkins11

Interesting if that is indeed a proof and specifically what diagnostics they used to determine it. A quick search shows there are only six known, I would be leaning towards mechanical error.

Roster of Proof 1853 Arrows and Rays Half Dollars
1. PR66 NGC. Norweb Collection (Bowers and Merena, 11/1988), lot 3159; Kaufman Collection; Milwaukee ANA (Heritage, 8/2007), lot 1786; FUN Signature (Heritage, 1/2013), lot 5667.
2. PR65 NGC. Eliasberg Collection (Bowers and Merena, 4/1997), lot 1956; Rarities Sale ( Bowers and Merena, 8/1999), lot 206; Goldberg Coins (2/2002), lot 1002; Long Beach Signature (Heritage, 5/2003), lot 6212; Baltimore Signature (Heritage, 7/2003), lot 7646; Long Beach Signature (Heritage, 9/2003), lot 7098; Long Beach Signature (Heritage, 2/2005), lot 7098. The present coin.
3. PR65 PCGS. Lorin G. Parmelee Collection (New York Coin & Stamp, 6/1890), lot 1234; Charles Steigerwalt; William Woodin; Waldo Newcomer; Col. E.H.R. Green; Major Lenox Lohr Collection (Stack's, 10/1956), lot 753; FUN Signature (Heritage, 1/2012), lot 3252.
4. PR63 NGC. J. Hewitt Judd Collection; Illustrated History of United States Coins (Abe Kosoff, 1962), lot 172; 55th Anniversary Sale (Stack's, 10/1990), lot 1651; Richmond Collection (David Lawrence, 3/2005), lot 1795.
5. Proof. Reed Hawn Collection (Stack's, 8/1973), lot 178.
6. Proof. Smithsonian Institution.

The_Dinosaur_Man

Not sure if I see any error. I don't know the diagnostics but someone else has already figured that out.

jmlanzaf

@The_Dinosaur_Man said:
Not sure if I see any error. I don't know the diagnostics but someone else has already figured that out.

OP is talking about the reverse rays being too strong on the GC coin.

MFeld

@LJenkins11 said:
Interesting if that is indeed a proof and specifically what diagnostics they used to determine it. A quick search shows there are only six known, I would be leaning towards mechanical error.

Roster of Proof 1853 Arrows and Rays Half Dollars
1. PR66 NGC. Norweb Collection (Bowers and Merena, 11/1988), lot 3159; Kaufman Collection; Milwaukee ANA (Heritage, 8/2007), lot 1786; FUN Signature (Heritage, 1/2013), lot 5667.
2. PR65 NGC. Eliasberg Collection (Bowers and Merena, 4/1997), lot 1956; Rarities Sale ( Bowers and Merena, 8/1999), lot 206; Goldberg Coins (2/2002), lot 1002; Long Beach Signature (Heritage, 5/2003), lot 6212; Baltimore Signature (Heritage, 7/2003), lot 7646; Long Beach Signature (Heritage, 9/2003), lot 7098; Long Beach Signature (Heritage, 2/2005), lot 7098. The present coin.
3. PR65 PCGS. Lorin G. Parmelee Collection (New York Coin & Stamp, 6/1890), lot 1234; Charles Steigerwalt; William Woodin; Waldo Newcomer; Col. E.H.R. Green; Major Lenox Lohr Collection (Stack's, 10/1956), lot 753; FUN Signature (Heritage, 1/2012), lot 3252.
4. PR63 NGC. J. Hewitt Judd Collection; Illustrated History of United States Coins (Abe Kosoff, 1962), lot 172; 55th Anniversary Sale (Stack's, 10/1990), lot 1651; Richmond Collection (David Lawrence, 3/2005), lot 1795.
5. Proof. Reed Hawn Collection (Stack's, 8/1973), lot 178.
6. Proof. Smithsonian Institution.

I wouldn’t merely be leaning towards mechanical error - I’d bet on it.