Another kinda tough hole filled - 1872-S Seated Half
ElmerFusterpuck
Posts: 4,808 ✭✭✭✭✭
From what I've read, this one is called a 'common date', but it sure didn't seem like it to me, took quite a while to find the 1872-S. The '73-S and 74-S halves seem to be just as tough, still have those slots open. This '72-S is graded PCGS AU-50:
10-4,
Erik
My registry sets
6
Comments
It's never been common to those in the know. Certainly a better S mint, especially in choice/gem unc. The last one I bought was from a local B&M shop for $65 as a VF back around 2010. Very dirty looking original. The coin graded out as XF at PCGS. One of my favorite dates that you can still buy on the cheap at times. 73-s and 74-s aren't easy to find either, especially nice/original. Those 2 are rare in choice/gem unc as well.
Eliasberg had a pair of gems....grading NGC MS66/MS67. Since the auction I believe both of them got into 67 holders. And then some time later iirc one (or both?) of those was downgraded to MS66. Hard to keep track.
Very nice Seated Half!
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Very nice . Looks better than a 50.
That's a pretty coin. I've always wondered what possesses people to collect entire sets of designs, but a mass of seated coins would be a real pleasure to look at.
Probably the design MOST used during the most interesting period of US history and expansion and general progress and excitement.
Good on ya.
Nice coin!
Nice!
Congrats!
Great coin.
"If I say something in the woods and my wife isn't there to hear it.....am I still wrong?"
My Washington Quarter Registry set...in progress
Yep. I bet PCGS gives it at least au53 on a crack-out.
I have not found 1872-S halves to be very available in attractive XF or better. They exist in upper circulated grades, but the eye appeal is rarely "choice" and they are often cleaned or otherwise stripped of their patina. I personally think 1873-s is quite a bit tougher than 1872-s or 1874-s in both XF/AU and the MS grades, but none of these coins are very easy to locate. I guess they cannot really be called "sleeper" dates any more because the prices have risen quite a bit as their rarity has been noticed.
I find the 1872-s with the small, centered mintmark (your variety) is slightly less available than the variety with the larger, low "S". My 1872-S is a VF35 details coin in a Genuine holder, so there's nothing to brag about in my collection.
Here is another interesting tidbit. Well-made, fake 1872-S half dollars exist that are so deceptive that PCGS apparently graded two of them at some point, after which our hosts bought them back. That information ought to be of interest to anyone who intends to buy one of these raw.
Article:
(http://www.coinworld.com/news/us-coins/2017/01/specialists-confirm-fake-1872-S-seated-liberty-half-dollar.all.html "http://www.coinworld.com/news/us-coins/2017/01/specialists-confirm-fake-1872-S-seated-liberty-half-dollar.all.html")
Thanks for that info Rhedden on counterfeits. When I did my seated surveys years ago not many "S" mint seated halves made the final list in overall circ conditions. 1855-s, 56-s, 57-s, 72-s, 73-s, 74-s, and 78-s....which follows mintages fairly decently. At that time the 72-s was a fairly low priced coin (like all the S mints from 1860 to 1872) so no doubt some examples in inventories didn't make it to price lists like a more expensive and more "revered" 55-s or 57-s might. In any case, 72-s still made the list over the other "common" S mints.
In a bang for the buck scenario the 72-s was the only cheap date on the list. The 73-s and 74-s prices were also skewed higher by their type coin status. My want list back then was pretty much any 72-s half and 1855-s halves in solid VF or better. Finding these totally original, problem free, and with neutral to attractive eye appeal isn't easy.