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Just located this 1878-S Seated Half
dizzyfoxx
Posts: 9,823 ✭✭✭
I love the Seated Half series and this amazing coin is not one that is often seen. I was thrilled to view such a key coin.
...There's always time for coin collecting. 
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"“Those who sacrifice liberty for security/safety deserve neither.“(Benjamin Franklin)
"I only golf on days that end in 'Y'" (DE59)
Lance.
<< <i>Almost all of the 1880's coins have as low or lower mintages and command a lot less money. Sorry just don't see that kind of premium on that one.
Considering the vast majority of the halves minted from 1880-1889 still exist today, and considering of the 12,000 1878-S pieces only about 50-60 still exist... yeah, I'd say your comparison is just a weeeeeeee bit flawed.
Well, the comparison might be a bit stretched, but it's even more of a leap to say that the vast majority of those low mintage halves exist today. In circ condition as this 1878-s half
is, the survival rate per date of 1880's halves is probably in the range of 50-200 per date. And in unc condition I'd estimate maybe another 150-600 per date. In all conditions
the % of the mintages surviving is probably on the order of 5-20% with the highest numbers due to original hoards of choice/gem uncs saved. A 200-800 pcs surviving per date where
mintages were over 10,000 is not a vast majority. There are other dates in the seated series that have surviving pops of 75-150 coins that cost a tiny fraction of what a 78-s half
brings and are probably much better values. But if one has to have a 78-s to complete their half dollar set, then you have little choice.
<< <i>I don't think DLRC would have a Counterfiet coin. >>
Of course not, I was actually joking. Many around here seem quick to point out flaws like a crack in the gasket and immediately jump to the conclusion that the slab and/or coin must be fake. Still though, for a coin worth that much, I would have had it re-holdered!
<< <i>I don't think DLRC would have a Counterfiet coin. >>
Not so fast.
Link
Of course, they didn't know it was and made everything right in the end.
There is another thing about this coin that bothers me, but I will wait till its sold to post as out of respect I dont want to hamper another dealers potential sale of the coin.
jim
Steve
The price gap betweens grades is not at great as you would think.
I recall an LSCC member paid not much more for an XF not long ago.
Buying top quality Seated Dimes in Gem BU and Proof.
Buying great coins - monster eye appeal only.
<< <i>I was one of the underbidders on this lot-1878-S half---way way way underbidder, I should say. But if i had $66,000 to spend on one coin it would be this 1797 VF30 half. This is a nice one! I predict that they won't have it very long. I only need 5 more halves to complete a date and mm set from 1794-date. They are 1794-1796-1797-1801 and the 1878-s. Heritage has two 1797 halves right now. Here is the other 1797. It is acceptable but I like the NGC coin better in this case. I do see the scuffing on the right field-still it is a very nice example of a tough,tough coin - both for date and very rare type- which almost no one has. >>
That 1878-S in XF40 looks to have been net graded for light corrosion (see rim), perhaps from contact with PVC.
1878-s: 27 graded in all grades
1879-1890: 106 to 342 graded for each date
Considering that the 1879-1890 halves are not expensive enough to submit for grading unless they're wholesome and original, and many are cleaned or impaired, I really feel that these population numbers are significant underestimates. For the 1878-s, it's got to be in a Genuine holder at the least before you'd even think of selling one, due to the massive pricetag, so most of these have been submitted to PCGS or NGC at one time or other. I really think the population numbers suggest that the 1879-1890 coins are downright abundant compared to the 1878-s.