Sesquicentennial Half Dollars - why so scarce in 65 and up?
jmlanzaf
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Out of a mintage of 141,000 the population in 64 is 2400 (rounded) with only 450 (rounded) graded higher. I've always wondered whether this was a by product of the very low relief of the coin.
Does anyone have a better theory?
Is the low relief partly a result of poor striking? In that case, the lower grades would seem appropriate.
But to me it looks like the design itself is very low relief and it seems like the coin's grade gets penalized for the limitations of the design.
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Comments
Some very interesting facts on a pretty ugly coin, from Q. David Bowers: They made a million of these, but due to lack of demand, sent about 860,000 back to the Mint to be melted! The low relief is NOT due to weak strikes, but is the design itself. It was the Sesquicentennial Commission itself that insisted the designs were to be executed in very shallow relief. As a result, they struck up poorly. Collectors at the time condemned the coin for its shallow features and uninteresting design. It shares the booby prize for ugliness with the Monroe Commem.
One of Bowers theories for the lack of high grades is the frequent graininess on the highest part of the portrait, reflecting marks from the original planchet.
Here’s mine, purchased as MS65, but upgraded by PCGS to MS65+ upon Reconsideration.
Steve
https://images.pcgs.com/TrueView/06839304_Medium.jpg
My collecting “Pride & Joy” is my PCGS Registry Dansco 7070 Set:
https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/type-sets/design-type-sets/complete-dansco-7070-modified-type-set-1796-date/publishedset/213996
That's just a design that doesn't attract high grades as well as the fact that people just didn't save them. Think about it...if you were a commem collector when it was struck, which commem of the time would you save if you had to spend one during the depression?
Whether low relief or strike issues, lots of 64's and below are dogs on the cheek. I actually like the coin (maybe mental issues on my part) and have a nice 63, decent 64 and a nice 65 CAC. I waited on the 65 until the current price crash, but it seems as if they've been stable for a couple of years. I am so glad I didn't buy at one of the earlier peaks.
The plus about doubles the value! Huge jumps between 64 & 66. Nice coin and not "Ugly"!
Is it possible that there are few high grades because these coins are plagued with milk spots?
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
Real nice!
Lol. Never seen one with milk spots, but thanks for tying the threads together.
I have always liked the reverse on that coin...simple but direct. Have not seen one I liked (until @winesteven's above) enough to purchase. Cheers, RickO